Newburgh is taking steps to improve its backup drinking water system as it prepares for future Catskill Aqueduct shutdowns that could leave the city relying on Brown’s Pond for weeks at a time.

The City Council approved a $49,850 agreement with engineering firm Arcadis of New York, Inc. on Oct. 26 to study two ways to permanently draw water from the pond, the city’s main backup water source.

Although Brown’s Pond provides an alternative when the Catskill Aqueduct is unavailable, the city has historically relied on two temporary arrangements to access its water: releasing water through a 48-inch pipe beneath the dam or using pumps mounted on a barge to move water to the pumping station.

The city expects future aqueduct shutdowns could last several weeks or longer, according to the engineering proposal. Such interruptions could occur during maintenance, repairs or other work on the aqueduct.

The first option under consideration would involve repairing and reinforcing the existing pipe, then installing a new connection to carry water directly to the pumping station.

The second would use a pipeline running over the dam to draw water from the pond. That system would require additional equipment to start and control the flow of water.

Arcadis said it will examine the advantages and potential problems associated with each option, including how difficult they would be to install and how much they might cost.

The company will begin by reviewing existing plans and records for the pond, dam and pumping station. Engineers may also visit the site if they need additional information but the initial study will not include new surveys or physical testing.

The findings will be presented to city officials in a preliminary report, giving them an opportunity to ask questions and provide feedback before the company completes its evaluation.

Newburgh’s reliance on the Catskill Aqueduct dates to 2016, when testing by the New York State Department of Health confirmed elevated levels of Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances (PFAS), also known as “forever chemicals,” in Washington Lake, then the city’s primary drinking water source. The contamination was linked to firefighting foam used at Stewart Air National Guard Base, prompting the city to stop drawing water from the lake and switch to the aqueduct.

The federal cleanup remains unfinished. During an Oct. 21 Restoration Advisory Board meeting, residents and officials discussed a revised Department of Defense timeline that could push completion of the investigation and evaluation of cleanup options to 2051. The military has taken temporary steps to capture and treat contaminated water, but it has not established a final cleanup plan.

Arcadis said it expects to begin the engineering study within a month of receiving a purchase order from the city and complete it approximately three months later, although delays could extend that timeline. The findings will help city officials decide which option to pursue but neither a preferred alternative nor a construction schedule has been established.