What is it that makes the water turn orange when they flush the hydrant?

Minerals – Primarily Iron & Manganese

The Village of Brewster supply source is ground water drawn from five sand and gravel wells.

The semiannual hydrant flushing purges the system of the accumulated settlement of these minerals suspended in the ground water.

Opening the hydrants and increasing the water flow causes the disturbance of this settlement so that it may be flushed from the system.

Does running the tap water make it clear up faster? 

No.  To the contrary, running the water prolongs the turbulence in the system.  The best thing to do is use as little water as possible for 12 to 24 hours so the system has a chance to settle out and clear. 

Why does my toilet run after hydrant flushing?

Sometimes tiny particulate gets caught under the flush valve seal in the toilet holding tank preventing it from sealing tightly.  The same can be true for washers and aerators (strainers) in faucets.  Make sure your faucets and toilets are not leaking and are unobstructed after hydrant flushing.  If you have strainers on washer supply hoses you should also check them but refraining from doing laundry for a 24 to 48-hour period from April 21^st is recommended.  

After this flushing, the next hydrant flushing is scheduled to be on October 7, 2026.

VILLAGE OF BREWSTER
RESIDENTIAL BULK PICK-UP
Monday, March 16, 2026

ITEMS MUST BE CURBSIDE BY 12:01 AM
(Keep this information for future reference)
RESTRICTIONS:

1. DO NOT put out prior to Saturday prior to pick-up date.
2. DO NOT put out any appliance containing FREON (i.e. refrigerators, freezers, air conditioners, etc.). Freon must be removed by an authorized Freon Recovery Dealer and a sticker from the dealer must be attached to the appliance or it WILL NOT be picked up.
3. DO NOT put out any propane tanks including those from barbeque grills. They WILL NOT be picked up.
4. DO NOT put out any air tanks including those from scuba gear or with helium. They WILL NOT be picked up.
5. Water base paint cans must be open and dried up (full cans WILL NOT be picked up). Oil base paint and cans WILL NOT be picked up.
6. DO NOT put out flammable liquids or hazardous materials (i.e. car batteries, gasoline, oil, etc.). You can contact *Putnam County Recycling to determine date to dispose of these.
7. DO NOT put out gas powered equipment (i.e. lawn mowers, weed whackers, tractors, etc.) without removing gas, or they WILL NOT be picked up.
8. DO NOT put out more than two major appliances of the same type for pick-up. (i.e. two refrigerators, two stoves, two sinks, two water heaters, etc.). Refrigerators/ freezers must have doors removed.
9. DO NOT put out any construction materials (i.e. insulation, drywall, treated or untreated lumber & composites, roofing and gutters, fencing, siding, ceiling, wall or flooring tiles, studs, beams, plaster board, cement, cement blocks, landscape timbers, wood pallets or other building materials.
10. DO NOT put out any tires.
11. DO NOT put out any brush, leaves or logs. If mixed in with bulk, your bulk WILL NOT be picked up.
12. DO NOT put out any ELECTRONIC DEVICES. Electronics WILL NOT be picked up.
13. DO NOT put out mattresses or box springs with your bulk, mattresses or box springs WILL NOT be picked up.
14. Items put out that are NOT PICKED UP must be arranged to be discarded by the tenant or landlord. Violations for non-compliance, up to and including fines and jail time may result. If it is on your sidewalk, it is considered your property. Stop violators from “dumping” on your property as you will be held responsible. Brewster Police may be contacted as needed to catch violators in the act.

ANY RETRICTED ITEMS AS IDENTIFIED ABOVE NOT PICKED UP BY CARTER MUST BE REMOVED BY 8PM ON THE DAY OF BULK PICK-UP. VIOLATORS WILL BE TICKETED AND CHARGED FOR REMOVAL IF THE VILLAGE IS REQUIRED TO REMOVE THE ITEMS.

LANDLORDS, PLEASE NOTIFY ALL TENANTS. SUMMONSES WILL BE ISSUED TO ANY PROPERTY OWNER WHO VIOLATES THESE RESTRICTIONS.

February 21, 2026

A State of Emergency is hereby declared in the Village of Brewster for a period of time beginning Sunday, February 22, 2026, at 12:01 AM and continuing in effect for a period not to exceed five (5) days and ending on Wednesday, February 25, 2026, at 12:01 AM.

The State of Emergency has been declared in the area or areas outlined below due to the emergency produced by the impending Snow Blizzard Event.

• This order supersedes and is in addition to applicable Village ordinances
• Area affected: Village of Brewster – entire area.
• No parking on Village streets anywhere at any time.
• Cars must be off Village streets before snow begins to fall, subject to ticketing and towing.
• Authorized traffic limited to essential emergency vehicles such as Police, Fire, and Ambulance.

Such conditions threaten or imperil the public safety of the citizens of the Village of Brewster. I, James J. Schoenig, Mayor, have exercised the authority given to me under New York State Executive Law, Article 2-B, to preserve the public safety and hereby render all required and available assistance vital to the security, well-being, and health of the citizens of the community.

January 24, 2026

LOCAL STATE OF EMERGENCY DECLARATION

A State of Emergency is hereby declared in the Village of Brewster for a period of time beginning Sunday, January 25, 2026, at 12:01 AM and continuing in effect for a period not to exceed five (5) days and ending on Wednesday, January 28, 2026, at 12:01 AM.

The State of Emergency has been declared in the area or areas outlined below due to the emergency produced by the impending Snow Blizzard Event.

• This order supersedes and is in addition to applicable Village ordinances
• Area affected: Village of Brewster – entire area.
• No parking on Village streets anywhere at any time.
• Cars must be off Village streets before snow begins to fall, subject to ticketing and towing.
• Authorized traffic limited to essential emergency vehicles such as Police, Fire, and Ambulance.

Such conditions threaten or imperil the public safety of the citizens of the Village of Brewster. I, James J. Schoenig, Mayor, have exercised the authority given to me under New York State Executive Law, Article 2-B, to preserve the public safety and hereby render all required and available assistance vital to the security, well-being, and health of the citizens of the community.

January 22, 2026, at 2:30 PM: The Village of Brewster is currently monitoring the incoming weather for next week and will update this post and our Facebook page should we need to close. Please call 911 for any emergencies during this time.

January 23, 2025: Please see the following post from Suburban Carting regarding Tuesday's Trash Pick Up:

January 24, 2026 at 12 PM: Village Hall will be closed on Monday January 26, 2026 due to inclement weather. At this time, we will reopen on Tuesday, January 27, 2026.

ITEMS MUST BE CURBSIDE BY 12:01 AM

RESTRICTIONS:

1. DO NOT put out prior to Saturday prior to pick-up date.
2. DO NOT put out any appliance containing FREON (i.e. refrigerators, freezers, air conditioners, etc.). Freon must be removed by an authorized Freon Recovery Dealer and a sticker from the dealer must be attached to the appliance or it WILL NOT be picked up.
3. DO NOT put out any propane tanks including those from barbeque grills. They WILL NOT be picked up.
4. DO NOT put out any air tanks including those from scuba gear or with helium. They WILL NOT be picked up.
5. Water base paint cans must be open and dried up (full cans WILL NOT be picked up). Oil base paint and cans WILL NOT be picked up. Please visit PaintCare.org to find a location to drop off cans with paint (oil or water).
6. DO NOT put out flammable liquids or hazardous materials (i.e. car batteries, gasoline, oil, etc.). You can contact *Putnam County Health Dept. to determine date to dispose of these. You can sign up to receive emails for these types of events.
7. DO NOT put out gas powered equipment (i.e. lawn mowers, weed whackers, tractors, etc.) without removing gas, or they WILL NOT be picked up.
8. DO NOT put out more than two major appliances of the same type for pick-up. (i.e. two refrigerators, two stoves, two sinks, two water heaters, etc.). Refrigerators/ freezers must have doors removed.
9. DO NOT put out any construction materials (i.e. insulation, drywall, treated or untreated lumber & composites, roofing and gutters, fencing, siding, ceiling, wall or flooring tiles, studs, beams, plaster board, cement, cement blocks, landscape timbers, wood pallets or other building materials.
10. DO NOT put out any tires.
11. DO NOT put out any brush, leaves or logs. If mixed in with bulk, your bulk WILL NOT be picked up.
12. DO NOT put out any ELECTRONIC DEVICES. Electronics WILL NOT be picked up.
13. DO NOT put out mattresses or box springs with your bulk, mattresses or box springs WILL NOT be picked up.
14. Items put out that are NOT PICKED UP must be arranged to be discarded by the tenant or landlord. Violations for non-compliance, up to and including fines and jail time may result. If it is on your sidewalk, it is considered your property.  Stop violators from “dumping” on your property as you will be held responsible.  Brewster Police may be contacted as needed to catch violators in the act. 

ANY RETRICTED ITEMS AS IDENTIFIED ABOVE NOT PICKED UP BY CARTER MUST BE REMOVED BY 8 PM ON THE DAY OF BULK PICK-UP.  VIOLATORS WILL BE TICKETED AND CHARGED FOR REMOVAL IF THE VILLAGE IS REQUIRED TO REMOVE THE ITEMS.

LANDLORDS, PLEASE NOTIFY ALL TENANTS.  SUMMONSES WILL BE ISSUED TO ANY PROPERTY OWNER WHO VIOLATES THESE RESTRICTIONS.

What is it that makes the water turn orange when they flush the hydrant?
Minerals – Primarily Iron & Manganese
The Village of Brewster supply source is ground water drawn from five sand and gravel wells.
The semiannual hydrant flushing purges the system of the accumulated settlement of these minerals suspended in the ground water.
Opening the hydrants and increasing the water flow causes the disturbance of this settlement so that it may be flushed from the system.

Does running the tap water make it clear up faster?
No. To the contrary, running the water prolongs the turbulence in the system. The best thing to do is use as little water as possible for 12 to 24 hours so the system has a chance to settle out and clear.

Why does my toilet run after hydrant flushing?
Sometimes tiny particulate gets caught under the flush valve seal in the toilet holding tank preventing it from sealing tightly. The same can be true for washers and aerators (strainers) in faucets. Make sure your faucets and toilets are not leaking and are unobstructed after hydrant flushing. If you have strainers on washer supply hoses you should also check them but refraining from doing laundry for a 24 to 48-hour period from October 2nd is recommended.

After this flushing, the next hydrant flushing is scheduled to be on April 15, 2026.

Village Hall will be closing at 1 PM on Thursday, July 3, 2025, and we will reopen on Monday, July 7, 2025, at 8:00 AM. 

Tax Bills are considered late as of June 30, 2025, and a 5% penalty has been added to outstanding accounts. 

Village Water Bills are due July 31, 2025, and the July Monthly Refuse is due on August 4, 2025.