Save Deerpark’s Water From Sewage: Legal Fund

Want to join me in making a difference? I'm raising money to benefit NYenvironcom (Mid-New York Environmental and Sustainability Promotion Committee) and the Deerpark Rural Alliance (DRA), and any amount will help make an impact. Thanks in advance for your contribution to this cause, which means so much to me. Right now, we are in an urgent situation: we are defending our community's right to clean water in Deerpark, NY.

Our mission is urgent. Data we collect with our ongoing water monitoring stations demonstrates that the Dragon Springs facility and owners are in clear violation of the Clean Water Act, and continue to actively contaminate the Basha Kill Stream and Neversink River with sewage discharge (Fecal Coliform) between 3x and 25x the legal limit–often rising in spring and dipping down in winter.

Anything above 100 cfu/100 ml is not safe for ingestion and, according to EPA recommendations, above 200 cfu/100 is not safe for full body contact, including to swim in. This level of contamination also puts the purity of our well water at significant risk.

Testing has shown on these dates:

7/01/2020 ~ 500 Cfu/100ml Fecal Coliform

8/11/2021 ~750 Cfu/100ml Fecal Coliform

8/24/2022 ~2500 Cfu/100ml Fecal Coliform

There have also been numerous documented instances, going back over 10 years, of pollution from construction runoff, sediment, and erosion.

Dragon Springs has been cited and fined by the DEC on numerous instances. They are also still negotiating a consent order for violations including constructing a bridge outside of approved plans, site erosion, and lack of sediment controls that cause turbidity, as well as petroleum bulk storage violations and modifying their site plan without prior approval.

The NYS State Dept of Education has ordered the Dragon Springs cafeteria and school facilities closed for lack of a valid Certificate of Occupancy, which was not obtained for these buildings.

Unfortunately, these actions alone are not enough to resolve the Clean Water Violations, making the need for citizen action a crucial component of protecting our waters.

We won’t let these violations stand. The funds we raise here will support:

While this contamination is a widely known issue, it continues to be a critical concern for our local environment. We need to urge those with power to act and respond now. Our goal is to protect the Basha Kill and Neversink from sewage contamination by compelling Dragon Springs to cease wastewater violations and remediate damage.

Help us make our case. Please give what you can, and share this fundraiser.

More about our organization and work:

NYenvironcom is a New York 501(c)3 non-profit organization whose aim is to create an informed, alert, and eco-smart community who can take action as critical local issues arise. By enabling community members to challenge threats of poor practices in our waters and lands, we serve our long term mission of developing thoughtful environmental, and economic practices, and values. NYenvironcom believes that it is important for everyone—especially our town boards and officials, project applicants, and our business people—to understand and appreciate our local rural ecology and have access to accurate, compelling data to make informed decisions. Deerpark Rural Alliance (DRA) functions as the public advocacy arm of our work.

Learn more about us:

Our website: https://nyenvironcom.ngo/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/nyenvironcom/

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@nyenvironcom