Commissioner: Water treatment filters out bird flu concerns in Bethlehem

Bethlehem’s water was deemed safe to drink Friday, after a flock of dead geese was found near a Selkirk water plant.

Initial plans were to shut the Selkirk plant down and switch the water supply to a plant in Albany over possible bird flu concerns. However, it was quickly deemed that wasn’t necessary.

NewsChannel 13 asked the Bethlehem commissioner of public works how the decision to not switch the water supply was made so fast. He told NewsChannel 13 the state Department of Health told him filtration at the plant was sufficient to remove the virus.

The New York State Department of Environmental Conservation is now testing the geese to determine if they had bird flu. Results are expected later this week, he said.