The Town of Cairo is set to hold a public hearing on Wednesday (May 21) to discuss the creation of a new water district. The proposed South Cairo Water District aims to address long-standing water supply issues in the area, particularly for residents near the former American Thermostat Company site, a designated Superfund location due to historical contamination.

The project, which will be carried out in two phases, plans to extend water lines to the County Estates Mobile Home Park and Scotch Rock Road. Greene County will fund the first phase, which involves connecting County Estates to the existing water supply. The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is expected to fund the second phase, which extends the water line to Scotch Rock Road. According to Times Union, the EPA's involvement follows a verbal agreement with local leaders, though official approval is pending.

Residents of the County Estates Mobile Home Park have relied on well water for decades, despite contamination concerns. The EPA has installed filtration systems, but the need for a more reliable water supply has become pressing. News10 reports that the EPA plans to begin further investigations into the contamination at the former factory site, which could take three to five years.

The public hearing will take place at the Cairo Town Hall at 7 p.m., where community members can provide feedback on the proposed water district. The project is anticipated to start this spring, with construction expected to begin once all necessary approvals and designs are finalized.

Jeff Stevens