Plenty are paying attention to United Water’s plans to build a water treatment processing plant on the Haverstraw shore of the Hudson. And, everybody’s got an opinion.

Details about United Water’s Hudson River Water Treatment Plant can be found at www.haverstrawwater.com/deis.

The plant would boost supply, and therefore quell Rockland’s constant worries about water shortages, since currently, all of Rockland’s water comes from within its borders. Both critics and proponents cite that one. (Critics point out that limited water supply should mean limited building, rather than seeking a new water source to aid continued development.) Some say tax-base damaged northern Rockland should be grateful for the ratable. Others say that the plant will be expensive to operate and push water rates sky high.

A letter by Diego Aviles published Wednesday, (read letter here) advocates for the plant, citing the tax revenue for North Rockland schools.

He sums up the argument here:

Although there are environmental concerns that must be addressed, we must let the state Department of Environmental Conservation be the judge and not “special interest groups.” As a North Rockland resident, I urge our public officials to quickly approve this project and let the DEC come back with a verdict instead of wasting time debating this with no end. North Rockland needs action now.

And some forum posters respond:

The Hudson River plant is just the kind of ratable that North Rockland needs to attract to help offset the Mirant crisis. In fact, Stony Point and Haverstraw needs to aggressively seek similar projects that generate taxes.

The desalination plant would be paid for by the people of Rockland County and it will not come cheap. It would also place a huge burden on our infrastructure which would also be paid for by the people of Rockland. It is important to look at the big picture, not just the short-term. The desalination plant would place a huge financial burden on ALL Rockland residents.

The environmentalists are blinded by the light. The North Rockland community desperately needs tax ratables to offset skyrocketing property taxes.