A photograph of a large watermain pipe running through a wooded area into the distance up a rocky hill.
A photograph of a watermain pipe running into a reservoir, but the reservoir water is so low that the pipe is suspended in the air.
A photograph of a reservoir wall that shows evidence of very low water levels.

Village of Whitehall Water System Emergency

Rapid Restoration of Water in Whitehall

Pine Lake Reservoir is the primary water supply for the Village of Whitehall, New York. In fall 2024, the reservoir was critically impacted by an extended summer drought that significantly reduced storage capacity to historic lows. This condition exposed the system’s vulnerability to both climatic variability and infrastructure failure.

In late 2024, a water main ruptured, resulting in uncontrolled loss of stored water at a time when reservoir capacity was already severely diminished. As the water level dropped below the hydraulic grade line necessary for gravity-fed distribution, the Village’s ability to maintain system pressure collapsed, leaving customers without potable water.

A photograph of a reservoir wall that shows evidence of very low water levels.
The Pine Lake Reservoir shows evidence of historically low water levels.
A photograph of a large watermain pipe running through a wooded area into the distance up a rocky hill
The Village’s water main runs over dramatic grade changes through heavily wooded areas.

An Emergency Response

The Village immediately engaged LaBella to provide engineering support for emergency response and service restoration. LaBella developed and rapidly implemented an emergency pumping system designed to transfer water directly from the diminished Pine Lake pool into the water treatment facility, effectively bypassing the gravity-fed mechanism upon which the system had historically relied. This temporary pumping solution was successfully deployed within hours, restoring potable water service to the Village and stabilizing conditions for subsequent permanent interventions.

A photograph of a new watermain bypass
A photograph of a new watermain bypass running through a pump system
A photograph of a new watermain bypass amongst the woods

Re-evaluating Resiliency

Following the restoration of service, LaBella conducted a detailed bathymetric survey of Pine Lake Reservoir to quantify the remaining raw water volume and evaluate long-term storage resiliency under both average and drought-induced demand scenarios. The study established critical storage thresholds and identified the limitations of the existing system under future climate extremes.

Using this dataset as a foundation, LaBella, in partnership with the Village, the Washington County Health Department, and the New York State Department of Health, developed a comprehensive action plan to enhance operational reliability, extend asset life, and mitigate risk of future supply interruptions.

A photograph of survey equipment along the edge of a lake during winter

A Holistic Response

The comprehensive action plan includes several integrated components:

  • Deployment of SCADA upgrades, real-time water level and flow sensors, and remote terminal units at Pine Lake and Skene Tank to support predictive management and early warning capability.
  • Rehabilitation of raw water transmission mains; inspection and replacement of altitude valves, hatches, and vents; and incorporation of permanent bypass and emergency pumping connections to maintain continuity during failure events.
  • Structural rehabilitation of Pine Lake and Midway Pond dam structures to ensure compliance with regulatory standards, extend service life, and reduce safety risks.
  • Integration of CCTV inspection programs, continuous operational data collection, and predictive analytics to support condition-based decision-making and capital planning.
  • Reconstruction of Long Pond Road, replacement of undersized culverts, and mitigation of tree hazards to preserve secure and continuous access to critical water system infrastructure.

Within one year following the initial water system emergency, LaBella’s grant writers identified appropriate funding outlets and secured the Village $2.5 million to begin addressing the various phases of infrastructure upgrades.

This project illustrates the critical nexus between climate stressors, aging infrastructure, and community water security. By turning an emergency outage into an opportunity for system-wide evaluation and reinvestment, the Village has initiated a transformation toward a more adaptive, intelligent, and resilient water supply framework.

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