Greg Hudson is reporting in The Daily Mail at a recent public hearing in Hunter, New York State Department of Health research scientist Pamela Young presented facts, figures and information about the new Filtration Avoidance Determination for New York City water, how it affects upstate residents, and why the existing FAD, drafted in 2007, needs to be replaced. The FAD is a federal Environmental Protection Agency waiver granted to New York City, allowing the city to avoid using filtration systems on its surface water supply coming from reservoirs west of the Hudson River. The city uses approximately 1 billion gallons of water from upstate reservoirs west of the Hudson River each day, the equivalent of 90 percent of the city’s water intake. The FAD is a series of land-use regulations imposed on lands in and around the watersheds and reservoirs where the city’s water supply originates. The purpose of the public hearings is to open a dialogue between watershed communities and state officials. “I hope this will continue to encourage a dialogue, which will lead to a better relationship between our communities and your organization,” Jewett Town Board member Michael McCrary said. He said the input of local municipalities and residents should be given fair audience throughout the process. Read the full story in The Daily Mail.