Sound Shore

New York, the only state with waterfront property on two great lakes and the ocean, knows from water. It means something, then, when a city or town is determined to have the best-tasting water in the state. This year, that honor goes to the Queen City of the Sound, New Rochelle.

The New York State Environmental Facilities Corp. announced on Tuesday that New Rochelle beat out nine other finalists to take first place at the 25th New York State Drinking Water Taste Test at the New York State Fair.

New Rochelle’s water was judged the best in the surface-source water systems category, besting entries from Bolton Point, Rochester and New York City. Yep, that New York City.

The Huguenots’ H2O was then pitted against the winner of the ground-water drinking sources category: Baldwinsville, a village in Onondaga County.

After nearly 300 tasters made their choice, victory was New Rochelle’s—by three votes. Congrats, New Rochelle.

After experiencing a brief drop in water flow Monday morning, Larchmont residents are once again enjoying the steady flow to which they are accustomed. Mayor Josh Mandell said the weak flow lasted about half an hour as residents were getting ready for work. Four people called city offices to report the problem. He said the issue stemmed from high demand, not any problems with the village’s infrastructure.

“It basically serves as a reminder to our residents to conserve water, to set their sprinklers at night instead of in the morning,” Mandell said.

He added the water level did not drop far enough to endanger appliances or emergency services.

To sip the best-tasting water in all of Westchester County, get yourself to the Queen City. The county’s Depart of Health held its annual taste test today in White Plains. Residents—201 of them—sampled water from seven of the county’s suppliers. Ossining, last year’s winner, failed to make the top three. Behind New Rochelle came Greenburgh, which was a distant second, and White Plains. So cheers to New Rochelle.

Rye and Rye Brook residents may soon see their water bills rise 10 percent a year and 5 percent in the next three years, according to a 4-year deal reached with United Water.

The water utility had originally proposed a 15 percent hike the first year, with city and village officials suggesting a 7.8 percent increase.

The parties settled on an estimated 9.8 percent jump, which Rye Mayor Doug French said works out to about $50 more a year for the average $500 water bill in Rye.

That’s $10 more than what city officials first proposed, but still less than the $75 annual increase suggested by United Water, French said.

The rate would drop to about 5 percent in the following three years.

“The increases are driven by a couple factors:  in this model you have to build in a profit margin, you have to build in capital investment, and the security of the water, and they also haven’t had an increase since 2004,” French said.

He added that he thought the agreement was fair.

“I don’t think coming in at a zero increase or much lower than we proposed is realistic,” French said.

City Manager Scott Pickup said at Wednesday’s Council meeting that United Water’s deteriorated infrastructure loses about 28 percent of water, and rate increases will fund upgrades.

Before the deal is finalized, it still has to be approved by the Public Service Commission. A public hearing on the proposed rate will be held Aug. 26 at 4 p.m. in Rye City Council Chambers.

The scorching heat has led Harrison to advise residents to reduce their water use to avoid low water pressure, Supervisor Joan Walsh tells residents in a letter on the town’s website.

Westchester Joint Water Works tanks typically distribute 8 million gallons of water a day on a normal summer day, but during the heat wave that demand grew to 16 million, Walsh said.

Pumps that get the water from Rye Lake can’t replenish the water fast enough.

Voluntary restrictions include:

1. Water your lawns and gardens every other day, alternating between odd and even house numbers.

2. No car washing

3. Limit laundry and dish washing to off-peak hours: 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. or 12 a.m. to 4 a.m.

4. Limit water use to essentials