CITY OF NEWBURGH – Restrictions on water usage were ordered Monday in the City of Newburgh after a state of emergency was declared due to the discovery of a pollutant in Silver Stream and in Washington Lake, the city’s main water supply.

The use of water from Washington Lake is being discontinued until further notice, and water will be drawn from Brown’s Pond and the Catskill Aqueduct after the discovery of concerning levels of perfluorooctane sulfonate, City Manager Michael Ciaravino said.

Conservation measures have also been put into effect, with the city restricting the use of water at restaurants and at residences.

While the level of the pollutant is below Environmental Protection Agency guidelines, it has been identified by the agency as a contaminant of “emerging concern,” Ciaravino said.

Both the state Department of Health and the Department of Environmental recommendation are recommending that the level of the pollutant be reduced or eliminated, he said.

Restrictions include:

-Residential use should not to exceed 50 gallons per resident per day.

-Use of water in a commercial or industrial facility is not to exceed 75 percent of the facility’s average daily consumption for the preceding 12 months.

-Water shall not be provided at a food-service establishment, except at the specific request of a patron.

-Use of water for washing paved surfaces such as streets, roads, sidewalks, driveways, garages, parking areas, tennis courts and patios is prohibited.

-Use of water for nonagricultural irrigation and watering of lawns, flower gardens, landscaped areas, trees, shrubs or other outdoor plants is prohibited.

-Use of water for noncommercial washing or cleaning of vehicles is prohibited.

-Use of water for commercial washing or cleaning of vehicles is prohibited if the facility does not recycle water.