The Village of Saugerties’ water supply is already under immense strain.
The reservoir can provide 1.8 million gallons per day. A 2020 report shows a peak of 1.627 million gallons. Any new development projects will increase pressure on the water supply.
The Winston Farm site is part of an aquifer protection overlay district that protects underground water.
Learn more about aquifers and wells here.
A 2022 hydrology report, commissioned by the Saugerties planning board, states that any development on Winston Farm should take into account the “risk to the valley bottom aquifer, and protection of a high-yield aquifer that might one day serve as the cornerstone for future growth in the Town of Saugerties.”
The Winston Farm developers want to tap the aquifer for their needs, including a 30-acre indoor water park.
Water is a Public Trust Resource, something we cannot do without and should be in the public domain, like air. Winston Farm has been considered a candidate water supply for Saugerties for decades. Is a water park a responsible use for such a valuable and life-giving commodity?
The developers estimate their water needs are beyond the current capacity of our water supply.
Their plans are to “construct another wellhead, water treatment facility and distribution network on the property” for their development needs and as a secondary source for the village. The developers’ offer is appreciated, but something more is needed: ownership of the wellhead and a legally defined easement, to ensure that it can be used as a public resource. Once that is assured, environmental protections must be put in place to protect the water source and supply.
