New York officials have declared a state of emergency in a town 60 miles north of Manhattan where authorities detected toxins in the public water supply late Monday.
Newburgh, a town of 30,000 people along the Hudson River in upstate New York, has elevated levels of perfluorooctane sulfonate in its water. The substance is a main ingredient in stain repellents.
City officials have diverted the local water supply to pull from other water sources to avoid from putting residents in the same position as those in Flint, Mich., where locals were forced to rely on bottled water for drinking, showering and other purposes.
Newburgh City Manager Michael Ciaravino said in a statement Tuesday the New York State Department of Conservation and the Department of Health have put forth steps to remove the compound from the water supply.
Authorities have asked residents to conserve water while the city relies on other sources until the system can be reinstated.
