At a time when United Water is seeking to build a desalination plant because  Rockland County's drinking water supplies are running low, the company has been fined for releasing too much water to New Jersey.

The Lake DeForest Reservoir (photo courtesy Preserve Ramapo and Rosspilot)According to the Journal News, United Water is required to release 9.75 million gallons of water per day from the Lake DeForest reservoir in Clarkstown. But the state Department of Environmental Conservation determined that United Water exceeded its permit limits by 231 million gallons between June 1, 2007, and Sept. 22, 2007. The company blamed a leaky valve.

United Water has already paid a $10,000 fine and can avoid $7,500 more in penalties if it adheres to the terms of a consent order, DEC Commissioner Pete Grannis said.