Mount Kisco officials criticized over leaking water tank while water restrictions are in place
Chase neighborhood resident Theresa Flora questions village leadership, especially since the village just declared a water emergency, banning any outside use of water due to low reservoir levels.
Mount Kisco village officials said a water tank on a hill in the Chase neighborhood is leaking close to 3,000 gallons of water each day.
The flow is similar to a gushing bathtub faucet.
A News 12 reporter who trekked through the woods to see the leak had difficulty telling whether there were several leaks or one leak that was sending water out of different places along the bottom of the tank.
Earlier this month, Village Manager Edward Brancati denied there was a leak.
Then a Chase resident shared video and photos of the leak.
Village officials then confirmed the leak, adding that it is not big enough to drain the tank or disrupt water service to the 80 homes that depend on the tank.
Theresa Flora questions village leadership, especially since the village just declared a water emergency, banning any outside use of water due to low reservoir levels.
"Just turn off the faucet," Flora said. "It's strange to be under water restrictions and have an open faucet like that."
Mayor J. Michael Cindrich told News 12 Wednesday extra pumps are on the way so the tank can be taken offline without disrupting water service.
The village will then inspect the tank and hire a contractor to fix it.
Cindrich said the repair should be completed in a few weeks and the cost to taxpayers is not yet determined.
"No one wants to waste anything environmentally," he said Wednesday over the phone, "and the tank leaking is an issue and it's going to be repaired."
At Tuesday's village board meeting, Brancati said he misspoke when he previously said the tank was not leaking.He said a repair plan is in motion.
"That emergency work has already been approved," he told the board, "and they're working on sourcing the parts."It is still unclear how long the Chase tank has been leaking.
News 12 reached out to Brancati asking when the last time was that any village employee inspected the tank.
He has not returned multiple messages seeking comment.
