Despite problems with the silt in Floyd's runoff, the state found no bacteria or viruses in the treated water, he said. But, Dr. Okun said, no one knows what pathogens could turn up in coming years in the suburban runoff that reaches the reservoirs. In the current land dispute, two towns, Old Tappan and Haworth, faced developers' deadlines for purchase of land near the reservoirs. Bergen County hurriedly provided taxpayer money from a year-old fund to preserve open space. The town must match that to stop construction of luxury homes there.
Officials say anti-development sentiment runs deep.
We've had just about enough,'' said Gregory C. Hart, the town administrator. In Emerson, on the banks of the Oradell, the town's politics are in turmoil over the company's proposal to build about 120 town houses near the reservoir. Two years ago, voters approved property-tax increases to buy the site. But town officials refused to enact the taxes and kept the town house proposal alive. In River Vale, across Lake Tappan from the peninsula of luxury homes, SWAN and the residents' association are fighting the proposal for 265 town houses on the reservoir's wooded shoreline.