United Water officials are urging customers to conserve water while they perform repairs to a treatment plant, but the Rockland County executive is questioning the timing of those repairs.

Officials say that necessary maintenance at the Lake Deforest treatment plant will require a series of regular shutdowns to the facility for the remainder of the year. As a result, the company is asking customers to voluntarily curb unnecessary water usage. It is asking residents to stop using water for non-essential activities, such as watering lawns and washing cars.

The maintenance comes just after United Water released a substantial amount of water to New Jersey, well above the amount allowed by a state permit. County Executive Scott Vanderhoef says it seems like a bad time to make the repairs when the county is facing a drought.

United Water officials say the maintenance is required to secure the water supply for the customers. The water company says it will be able to make up the excess released in the coming days. However, the county has now requested that United Water be required to provide a review of future water releases.

Related InformationUnited Water Conservation