Year: 2020

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As the Plainview community prepares for snow in the forecast as we jump into the colder months, the Plainview Water District (PWD) would like to remind its residents about the importance of keeping fire hydrants clear. Ensuring hydrants remain free of snow and any other winter debris can save first responders valuable time during their response to an emergency situation.

“The winter weather arriving always provides us with an opportunity to remind our residents and local business owners of the importance of keeping hydrants clear,” said PWD Chairman Marc Laykind. “Making sure the fire department has quick and easy access to fire hydrants at all times saves precious moments that should be used to responding to an emergency.”

Residents can “adopt” a nearby fire hydrant to pledge responsibility for reporting issues and making sure it kept clear during snowstorms. Clearing approximately three feet around the hydrant will provide both firefighters with uninterrupted access in case of a potential emergency. This provides plenty of room for the emergency personnel to operate the device as well as locate it.

“You never know when or where an emergency is going to occur so never assume that they fire hydrant in front of your home won’t be needed,” said PWD Commissioner Andrew Bader. “We also encourage residents to never assume someone else will clear the hydrant so please communicate with your neighbors to ensure it is cleared in a timely fashion.”

In addition, the Plainview Water District asks residents to also consider assisting neighbors, family members and friends who are unable to clear their own fire hydrants without assistance. Residents who leave their homes for the winter season are asked to notify a neighbor who can make sure someone is responsible for clearing it in their absence.

“The safety of our community is always our foremost priority, which is why we are so emphatic about making sure this simple yet vital step is not overlooked,” said PWD Commissioner Amanda Field. “We appreciate the attention of our residents on this simple, yet crucial, task.”

If you have questions about preparing your home’s water system for the winter or general inquiries about your water service, please call 516-931-6469 or send an email to info@plainviewwater.org. Customers of the Plainview Water District are also encouraged to sign up to receive updates by visiting www.plainviewwater.org. Follow the Plainview Water District on Facebook at www.facebook.com/plainviewwater.

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The cold winter months are upon us and the Plainview Water District would like to provide residents with some helpful tips to prepare their homes’ water system. When exposed to cold weather, water systems that are not properly prepared or winterized can be subject to breaks and/or leaks. Residents are encouraged to utilize these tips to protect their homes from any damage or disruptions caused by frozen pipes.

“Preparing your home’s water system for the colder weather is very simple, but failing to take these steps can cause problems down the road,” said Chairman Marc Laykind. “We ask everyone in the District to use this information as a guide to avoid a big and unnecessary frustration that frozen pipes can cause.”

Outdoor Water Systems:

Don’t forget to turn off those hose spigots from inside the house and leave the outside valves open to prevent freezing. This allows any trapped water to expand in freezing temperatures, preventing the pipe from bursting. Disconnect and drain all hoses and keep in a warm, dry place for reuse in the spring.

Sprinkler Systems:

Sprinkler systems should be winterized to prevent possible leaks and damage to the system. Leaks in sprinkler systems caused by burst pipes can be hard to identify when the systems return back on line, leading to increased water usage and decreased functionality.

Indoor Maintenance:

If a customer’s water service is in the boiler room or basement, check the area for broken windows or drafts. Brisk winds and freezing temperatures can cause pipes and water meters to freeze or break. In preparation, locate the main water shutoff valve in your home in case of an emergency and make sure pipes in unheated areas—like crawl spaces—are properly insulated.

It is also advised that all customers clearly label the main water shutoff valve in their home so they are prepared in the event of a water leak emergency. Shutoff valves are typically located where the water service enters the house through the foundation.

Water Lines Leading to Unheated Structures:

Be sure to shut off and drain service lines leading to any unheated structures until spring to prevent breaks.

If you have questions about preparing your home’s water system for the winter or general inquiries about your water service, please call 516-931-6469 or send an email to info@plainviewwater.org. Customers of the Plainview Water District are also encouraged to sign up to receive updates by visiting www.plainviewwater.org. Follow the Plainview Water District on Facebook at www.facebook.com/plainviewwater.

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The Plainview Water District would like to clarify some confusion stemming from a recent Plainview-Old Bethpage School District notification concerning POB schools’ internal water samples that tested positive for lead. We routinely sample for lead and copper in the Water District distribution system and all results have shown that levels for lead were non-detectable (if any contaminant exists, it is so low that modern sampling technology cannot detect it) and copper levels are far below the referred action limit.

Since the water being supplied to homes and buildings is essentially free of these contaminants as confirmed by our routine sampling, when a sample taken within a structure/facility shows elevated levels of lead and/or copper, the source of the lead/copper is interior plumbing or fixtures. Lead was a common material used in plumbing systems and fixtures in older buildings. In fact, to a lesser degree, there are still some plumbing fixtures that are manufactured today with a small amount of lead in them, which can result in positive “first draw” samples.

Water providers do not have any jurisdiction of the plumbing systems or fixtures inside of a home, business, or other buildings. However, to help get a better understanding of the presence of lead and copper in the interior plumbing systems and buildings, the District conducts lead and copper sampling in accordance with the EPA’s regulation known as the lead and copper rule. All water districts across the nation conduct lead and copper sampling in accordance with EPA guidelines.

The Health Department limits are set for lead and copper, and District water laboratory results are as follows:

Lead:

  • Health Department maximum allowable Limit= 15 parts per billion (ppb).
  • Plainview Water District results have been less than 1.0 ppb or non-detectable.

Copper:

  • Health Department maximum allowable Limit= 1.3 parts per million (ppm).
  • Plainview Water District results have shown a maximum level of 0.0044 ppm.
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Plant #2 is the First of Four District Facilities to Operate the State-of-the-Art Advanced Oxidation Process Treatment

The Plainview Water District (PWD) is proud to announce that its first advanced oxidation process (AOP) treatment system is operational after receiving approval from the New York State Department of Health. AOP treatment, along with granular activated carbon (GAC), is the only treatment combination proven to remove 1,4-dioxane from drinking water. PWD’s Plant #2 is the first of four production facilities to receive the treatment duo that is now producing water with non-detectable levels of 1,4-dioxane ahead of the State’s compliance deadline.   

“This is a watershed moment for the Plainview Water District and our community as a whole,” said PWD Chairman Marc Laykind. “We have been dedicated to the development of these AOP treatment projects each and every day for more than two years so it is extremely gratifying to have our first system up and running. Being in this position today is no small feat—this came together because of this District’s comprehensive planning and execution all in the name of providing higher-quality water to Plainview-Old Bethpage residents.”

On August 26, 2020, the New York State Health Department finalized regulations that will take effect later this year. These regulations established maximum contaminant levels (MCL) for emerging compounds 1,4-dioxane, PFOA and PFOS. This action makes New York the first and only state in the country with an enforceable MCL for 1,4-dioxane. The District has been working tirelessly for the past several years to formulate and implement their aggressive action plan to have the required treatment systems constructed and secure the funding for these costly capital improvements. The District’s diligent efforts make them one of the few water providers on Long Island with an operational AOP system for the removal of 1,4-dioxane.

“We are proud to be one of the first Nassau County water providers to have an operational AOP system,” said PWD Commissioner Amanda Field. “The Plainview Water District has put in a tremendous amount of time and effort to ensure we are in the position we are today. With construction completed at the other impacted well sites, we will be able to get them up and running as soon as we receive the required approvals from the health department.”

While Plant #2 is the first PWD water supply and treatment site to have a completed AOP and GAC system, construction of treatment systems at Plants #1, #3 and #7 are also completed. These systems cannot be turned on until approval is given from the New York State Department of Health. However, the District is expecting to have the necessary approvals for these remaining treatment facilities in the near future.

“Even though there is a provision that could provide water providers with an additional three years to come into compliance with the new regulations, our plan was always to have treatment up and running as soon as possible.” stated PWD Commissioner Andrew Bader. “Water quality is, and will always be, our foremost concern and we will continue to make whatever infrastructure improvements are necessary to deliver water to our residents that meets or surpasses all water quality guidelines.”

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Even with widespread power outages caused by Tropical Storm Isaias, the water in Plainview never stopped flowing

Plainview, N.Y. (September 15, 2020)—The impacts of our region’s hurricane season varies from year to year, but with the impacts already experienced by Tropical Storm Isaias, the Plainview Water District is prepared for any extreme weather event allowing the community to experience zero water service interruptions. Due to the District’s planning and extensive precautionary measures, the community’s drinking water remains protected and never stops flowing, even with widespread and lengthy periods of time without power.

“The District has taken many short-term and long-term planning measures over the past several years that have prepared us to handle any severe weather event,” said Board Chairman Marc Laykind. “We realize that the last thing our residents need in a severe weather event is for their water to stop running. This is why we have taken every proactive action necessary to ensure our community always has access to high-quality drinking water.”

In the event of a power outage, the Plainview Water District has its own emergency electrical generator facilities, which are consistently maintained and always on standby to keep water flowing in case of a severe weather event. These generators keep pumps and treatment facilities online without interruption during a severe weather event. In addition, District staff members are well trained to utilize all emergency equipment as well as handle a diverse list of emergency situations, including the recent tropical storm.

“In the case of any severe weather event, our facilities and staff are prepared to act swiftly around the clock,” added Commissioner Andrew Bader. “Our response plan, which includes the mobilization of emergency response teams, water testing laboratories and water main repair contractors, are always on standby so they can be implemented within a moment’s notice.”

The District is also a member of New York’s statewide Water/Wastewater Agency Response Network (NYWARN) of utilities that supports and promotes statewide emergency preparedness, disaster response and mutual aid for public and private water and wastewater utilities. As a member of NYWARN, neighboring water suppliers from across the state provide emergency assistance when necessary.

“Even though our systems rely on electricity to operate, we do not put all of our eggs in the power company’s basket,” said PWD Commissioner Amanda Field. “When needed, like in event where power outages are widespread throughout the region, we can be completely self-sufficient. This is the type of service our residents have come to expect, and frankly, the type of service they deserve.”

For further information, or if you have any questions, please call the District at 516-931-6469 email info@plainviewwater.org or visit www.plainviewwater.org. Residents can also sign up to receive information by submitting their email address through the District’s homepage or following them on Facebook in order to stay up-to-date with District activities and initiatives.

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Plainview Water District personnel will be conducting preventative maintenance operations on all hydrants district-wide from May 1st to approximately July 31st. This routine annual maintenance of our hydrants helps protect our community’s health and safety. This is not an extensive flushing operation. We will be pressure testing our hydrants and opening them briefly to ensure proper operation and readiness so that they will be fully functional by fire crews if needed.

When maintenance is being performed residents in the immediate vicinity of the work may experience temporary discoloration of their water. This discoloration primarily consists of harmless rust particles and does not affect the safety of the water. If you experience discoloration in your water after crews have been testing hydrants in your neighborhood, it is best to run your cold water tap at the lowest point of your home for 2 minutes or until it clears up.

Questions about hydrant testing can be directed to our customer service representatives by calling 516-931-6469 between the hours of 8am and 4pm Monday – Friday.

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Dear Long Island residents,

Foremost, we hope that everyone is staying safe and abiding by all health recommendations from the World Health Organization and the Center for Disease Control and Prevention. While this COVID-19 outbreak has changed much of our daily lives, it will not hinder our unbreakable spirit to better serve the communities we love.

Responsible for delivering high-quality drinking water to more than 3.5 million residents in Nassau and Suffolk Counties, the membership of both the Long Island Water Conference (LIWC) and Nassau Suffolk Water Commissioners Association (NSWCA) reassures every Long Islander that your drinking water is and will remain unaffected by the COVID-19 outbreak. There is no need to be stocking up and hoarding bottled water.

Aside from standard treatment measures that would inactivate the virus (there are no known COVID-19 detections in any water source throughout the globe), our organizations have worked in lockstep with one another to quickly put in place necessary precautions to promote the health and safety of our residents and employees. Water providers across Long Island implemented temporary policies that closed public facing facilities and restricted the entry of employees to a resident’s home for anything other than an absolute emergency. We rearranged work schedules to better promote social distancing and have isolated key water plant operators to the greatest extent possible. The communication within our industry has been constant since the start of the outbreak to ensure that every water supplier has the personnel, equipment and supplies to see them through this situation now and into the future.

Like doctors, nurses, EMS personnel, police officers and firefighters, employees of water providers are essential and we do not have the luxury of staying away from the field. Regardless of the situation, well pumps and treatment facilities need to be checked daily, water samples from the distribution systems are routinely gathered to ensure quality and water main breaks must be fixed expeditiously to minimize service impacts. Regardless of what stops in the world around us, we must continue marching as every single person relies on us completing our daily tasks.

To the men and women of the water industry who continue to show up regardless of the situation and provide Long Islanders the stability of an uninterrupted supply of water in these uncertain times, thank you. Your efforts, professionalism and dedication to the invaluable roll you play in our society is very much appreciated. Time and time again you have proven that there is no situation or emergency we aren’t prepared to handle.

Sincerely,

Richard Passariello, Chairman, Long Island Water Conference

William Schuckmann, Chairman, Nassau Suffolk Water Commissioners Association

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Out of an abundance of caution and in the spirit of protecting public health, effective immediately the Plainview Water District will not be accepting payments inside of the District office in any form. Additionally, the office will be closed to the public until further notice.

Please be advised the payment drop box immediately outside of the entry door is available for you to remit payment. We encourage you to utilize other methods of payment such as postal mail, online payments, or enrolling in automatic bill payments.

Please feel free to contact us at 516-931-6469 if you have any questions.

We thank you for your understanding and cooperation.

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As Seen in the Plainview – Old Bethpage Herald – January 29 – February 4, 2020

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As seen in the Plainview – Old Bethpage Herald – January 22 – 28, 2020

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As Seen in the Plainview – Old Bethpage Herald – January 15 – 21, 2020

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Several talented students at the Plainview-Old Bethpage High School created this video explaining the journey of a drop of water. Watch the video!

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Plainview Water District’s Continues Its Pursuit of Treatment Funding with Latest Grant Award of $3.7 Million

In its ongoing pursuit to leverage all possible funding opportunities, the Plainview Water District (PWD) was recently awarded $3.7 million to continue implementing necessary treatment to remove emerging contaminants, most notably 1,4-dioxane. This is the fourth grant award the District has received in three years amounting to a collective total of $9 million for advanced treatment projects.

“Once again, we thank Governor Cuomo and the New York State Legislature for making this significant funding available to water providers for the installation of state-of-the-art treatment upgrades,” said PWD Board Chairman Marc Laykind. “With expenses related to the removal of emerging contaminants—primarily 1,4-dioxane—mounting, we are very proud of the work our team has done to secure this funding to lessen the financial burden on our community.”

The $3.7 million in grant award will go towards the District’s planned $6.1 million investment in treatment upgrades at Plant 2. The upgrades include the installation of a new treatment technology called the Advanced Oxidation Process (AOP) system which is needed to remove 1,4-dioxane from drinking water. In addition, a Granular Activated Carbon (GAC) filtration system—an industrial-sized carbon filter—will also be installed at the site. This treatment combination is the only approved method to successfully remove detections of 1,4-dioxane and any potential treatment byproducts from the drinking water.

This round of infrastructure funding was part of a recent announcement from Governor Cuomo that provided more than $416 million for water and wastewater projects across New York State. More than $120 million of this funding has been specifically allocated to help communities across Long Island fund treatment projects for emerging contaminants. In 2017, Governor Cuomo and the State Legislature passed the Clean Water Infrastructure Act that dedicated $2.5 billion in wastewater and drinking water projects and water quality protection across New York State.

“The infrastructure investment needed to ensure the removal of these emerging contaminants is expensive and makes the importance of this funding that much more significant,” said PWD Commissioner Andrew Bader. “We will be conducting a rate study to determine what will be the least impactful method for paying off treatment-related bond expenses. Our successful grants awards are cutting into the amount we have to pay back in a real and noticeable way.”

Prior to the New Year, the New York State Health Department announced a rule change to its proposed regulations to establish a Maximum Contaminant Level (MCL) for 1,4-dioxane and perfluorinated compounds (PFAS). This rule change, if passed, would provide water providers with a maximum of three years to come into compliance with the MCL regulations. 

“We are already deeply entrenched in our action plan to improve the treatment facilities throughout our District to ensure 1,4-dioxane and other emerging contaminants are removed from our water,” said PWD Commissioner Amanda Field. “Even though state health regulators are proposing to provide all water providers with up to three years to get the treatment systems up and running, we are not taking our foot off the gas pedal. Our goal and primary focus is to have the necessary treatment implemented by the end of  this summer.”

The Plainview Water District recently launched an Emerging Contaminants Resource Page that contains in-depth and up-to-date content about 1,4-dioxane and PFAS. The District encourages anyone with questions about these emerging contaminants to visit plainviewwater.org/resources/emergingcontaminants.

For further information, or if you have any questions, please call the District at 516-931-6469, email info@plainviewwater.org or visit www.plainviewwater.org. To receive regular updates from the Plainview Water District, please sign up for email updates on the District’s homepage. Don’t forget to stay connected to the Plainview Water District on Facebook at www.facebook.com/PlainviewWaterDistrict. 


MORE ABOUT EMERGING CONTAMINANT TREATMENT

AOP treatment blends raw groundwater with a low concentration of an oxidant—most commonly hydrogen peroxide—that then goes through a sophisticated ultraviolet light reactor to destroy the 1,4-dixoane molecules. Once groundwater goes through the AOP process, water is then piped into GAC vessels. GAC vessels—which are industrial-sized carbon filters—remove any remaining hydrogen peroxide and other VOCs form the water. After GAC treatment, water is chlorinated for disinfection, pH is adjusted then tested before being delivered to residents’ taps.

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