Ramapo residents concerned about 'zombie' property contaminating environment

Town of Ramapo residents are concerned that a vacant, so-called "zombie" property may be contaminating the local well water.

News 12 Staff

Aug 20, 2021, 7:14 PM

Updated 1,202 days ago

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Town of Ramapo residents are concerned that a vacant, so-called "zombie" property may be contaminating the local well water.
Residents say the property off Route 45 in Pomona has sat vacant for about 15 years and has become a dumping ground for construction debris.
Paint materials, flooring materials, piles of sheet rock, trash and other materials were seen in the area.
Nearby homes rely on well water, so the biggest concern by neighbors is that the chemicals from all of the construction debris is seeping into the ground and contaminating the water.
“We don't have city water as an option, so this is our drinking water, we shower in it,” says neighbor David Wasserman. “All this stuff is seeping into the ground."
News 12 found an invoice in the debris, but was unsuccessful contacting the LLC listed.
In 2015, News 12 reported about the abandoned property after it was graffitied. At that time, it was owned by the Adolph H. Schreiber Hebrew Academy of Rockland, which claimed it had plans to demolish it.
The town says the property owner was in court about the matter last week and agreed to clean up the property by October.
While residents still have concerns about their wells, the town building inspector revisited the site Friday and says there’s no risk to the water supply.
The Department of Environmental Conservation told News 12 they are working with local authorities and will assess the situation.