'We Can't Drink Without Holding Our Noses': Rockland County Residents Deal With Foul Tap Water
CLARKSTOWN, N.Y. (CBSNewYork) -- Homeowners in Rockland County say their tap water literately stinks, but the drought may be to blame.
While it may be safe to drink, it certainly doesn't pass the smell test, CBS2's Brian Conybeare reported.
"Clarity, not that bad. Taste, awful," resident Thomas Merjanian said. "It has a metallic flavor, it has a dirt flavor in it."
The 73-year-old from Valley Cottage said he had to switch to buying jugs of bottled water about six weeks ago.
The water company SUEZ, a French conglomerate, blames the foul odor and taste on unseasonably warm and dry conditions that is says are stressing water systems across the Northeast.
A statement posted on the company's Facebook page read, "Despite the temporary changes in taste and odor, the water continues to meet all the standards for safe drinking water. It can still be used for drinking, cooking and bathing."
"It may be drinkable, it may be safe, but we can't drink it without holding our noses," Rockland County Executive Ed Day said.
Day wants SUEZ to credit customers' water bills because of the stench.
"Let them use that money to buy the bottled water they have to buy," he said.
Jamie McIvor, a licensed water specialist, said his company has seen a 10 percent jump this fall because of the foul water. He's even installing a carbon filter in his own home this weekend.
"I don't want that odor in my house," he said.
CBS2 took samples from Merjanian's house to send to an independent lab for testing.
"If I put a bowl of that water out for a dog or a cat, they would refuse to drink it," he said.
Suez claims the problem will end with cooler weather and more rain, but Merjanian said he's sticking with bottled water until further notice.