STONE RIDGE – SUNY Ulster desperately needs a new water supply. So do a number of properties on the western side of the High Falls bridge. However, the issue of hooking the college up to the High Falls Water District is, at least for now, hung up on the interpretation of state rules on bonding for college projects and future use of a supply line from High Falls up to Cottekill.

SUNY Ulster President Alan Roberts has explained that the school is struggling with poor water supply, and that there isn't even enough water pressure for some science experiments. What water there is has taste and odor problems and has even corroded college equipment. There are issues with iron and sulfur, and the yield on the wells is falling.

The obvious solution, and one recommended by engineers, is for the college to sink a 2.3-mile line down to the High Falls Water District. The district has 224 properties hooked up and supplies them with 27,000 gallons a day. There is plenty more water available there, and the college's requirement of 30,000 gallons a day could easily be met. And that would be a huge improvement over the 15,000 gallons a day the college ekes out of the current wells.

In Marbletown, Supervisor Michael Warren said, "We're absolutely in favor of the college getting water from High Falls. The issue is in our need to connect other properties to the new water line, once it comes over the bridge and up to Leggett Road."

Ulster County Officials and SUNY representatives say the funding for the water line can only be used for the college, there's an educational use requirement. Warren added, "The county used education bonds to fund this water line, and under those rules no one can hook up but the college."

Ulster County Legislators Rich Parete and Manna Jo Greene are seeking a way out of this through an exemption for Marbletown.

Michael Warren noted that the small commercial district on the western side of the High Falls bridge, with fourteen commercial and residential units is "begging for water." He adds that the water pipe envisaged will be an 8-inch pipe and there will be sufficient flow for a hookup even to the hamlet of Stone Ridge. He added that SUNY Ulster has invested millions already in the engineering studies for this project and everything is ready to go, if only the issue of retaining the water solely for the college can be overcome.

Back at SUNY Ulster, President Roberts explained, "It's between the lawyers right now. Our attorney is working with Beatrice Havrinek, the county attorney, to find a way forward. Part of the issue is that the county cannot guarantee the town any hook ups in ten years. The issue is that they can't bind future legislators to an agreement on this." Stayed tuned for more information, as it becomes available.