Law enforcement and city officials have released the name of a man whose body was found in the Highland Park Reservoir this week. They have also lifted the boil water notice that was put in place due to the body in the water.
During a news conference on Thursday morning, Rochester Mayor Malik Evans said Abdullahi Muya, 29, of Rochester, went into the water at the reservoir in the early morning hours of Feb. 24. According to the Rochester Police Department, after entering the gated area around 6:30 a.m. on that date, Muya appears to have slid down the side of the reservoir and into the water, where they say he died. Police say no one else was present a the time of his death and there does not appear to be any crime involved.
According to police, Muya was reported missing earlier this month. They say he was last seen on Feb. 18 in the area of Van Auker Street around 3 p.m.
City officials sent a news release early Thursday morning saying water quality tests confirmed the water is safe for drinking and other uses. The Monroe County Department of Public Health advised residents in a large section of the city to boil their drinking water after Muya's body was discovered around 8 a.m. on Tuesday. The RPD scuba team was then called in to retrieve his body.
Police contacted the City of Rochester Water Bureau and were told the reservoir was immediately bypassed as soon as the discovery was made. The drinking water was also tested and no safety issues were found.
Out of caution, the Monroe County Department of Public Health issued the boil water notice. Multiple samples were collected from the water distribution system over 16 hours to confirm the water quality had not been impacted. The Rochester City School District canceled classes and was closed on Wednesday due to the boil water notice. Classes resumed on Thursday.
The city says draining, cleaning and refilling of the Highland Park Reservoir will take place over the next few months.
The map below shows the section of the city that was impacted by the boil water notice, which is no longer in effect.