Proper Disposal of Expired or Unwanted Medications to Prevent Potential Contamination of Sole-Source Aquifer

The Plainview Water District (PWD), in partnership with the Nassau County Police Department, successfully hosted its sixth annual Pharmaceutical Take Back Day and collected over 400 pounds of unwanted or expired medications. These medications will now be disposed of properly in order to prevent them from making it into the community’s sole-source aquifer for drinking water. This District has now collected and properly disposed of more than 1,800 pounds of medications since it began this annual event six years ago.

“For the past six years, the Plainview Water District has held Pharmaceutical Take Back Day as part of its continued initiative to protect our sole-source aquifer and prevent the improper disposal of medications,” said PWD Commissioner Marc Laykind. “The District extends its thanks to the POB community for their participation and commitment which has been instrumental in contributing to the event’s success year after year. We look forward to further collaboration with POB residents and service to the community in the future.”

When someone improperly disposes of prescription and over-the-counter medicines, such as flushing them down the toilet or throwing them away in the garbage, there is a likelihood that the medications’ contents will ultimately make their way into the community water ways and water supply. If there is an elevated presence of toxins from pharmaceuticals in the groundwater, the District will have no choice but to invest in expensive treatment systems so the contaminants can be removed before they reach customers’ homes.

“Our annual Pharmaceutical Takeback Day continues to provide a useful service to our residents and allows them to play an important role in protecting our community drinking water source,” said PWD Commissioner Andrew Bader. “The entire team at the Plainview Water District is incredibly grateful for the continued support and involvement of the community, as this event wouldn’t be possible without them. We are excited to continue to hold this event for many years to come and to watch its success continue to grow with both current and future members of the POB community.”

“As a longtime member of the Plainview-Old Bethpage community, this was an incredible experience to see how many of our community members participate in Pharmaceutical Take Back Day,” said PWD Commissioner Michael Chad. “The level of dedication shown by the District to make this event happen and to the residents that participated is truly remarkable and will without a doubt help our efforts to preserve Plainview. Thank you to all who took the time to join us and participate!”

For additional information about the Plainview Water District, please call (516) 931-6469 or visit the Plainview Water District website at 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.

Planview Water District Informs Residents on Upcoming Maintenance to the Community’s Elevated Water Tower and its Importance

The Plainview Water District (PWD) would like inform residents that the District’s water tower will be undergoing routine maintenance beginning on October 18^th. This routine cleaning process includes power washing any natural algae growth on the exterior of the tower. The District anticipates this work to be completed by October 20^th.  

PWD’s elevated water tower can be seen from almost anywhere in the Plainview-Old Bethpage community and this vital piece of infrastructure plays a significant role in providing high-quality water to residents and businesses each and every day. Standing at 143 feet tall, located at one of the highest points in the community, this water tower stores more than one million gallons of water and pressurizes much of the water system. Given the importance of this piece of infrastructure, the District fulfills a routine maintenance and inspection schedule for the tower so it is always operating at peak performance.

“The PWD water tower is not only a visual staple within the community, but also a vital component of our water’s infrastructure,” said PWD Commissioner Marc Laykind. “The tower provides both water storage and system pressure at a significantly lower cost than alternative systems. With that, it must be maintained appropriately and the District has strict timelines when it comes to proper inspections and upkeep to ensure it is always ready to serve.”

Water towers are a tried-and-true method for ensuring that pressure throughout a water distribution system is consistent. Using gravity, the weight of more than one million gallons of water stored more than 100 feet in the air helps to pressurize a significant portion of the District’s nine-square-mile service territory. This system ensures homes continue to receive pressurized water even in the event of an emergency, such as a fire or water main break. During the summer months, when water usage is at its peak, it is important for residents to practice better water conservation habits to ensure tank levels remain adequate so there is ample water storage and pressure in the event of a fire emergency.

“In the event of an emergency, we want to ensure that we are prepared in every way possible,” said PWD Commissioner Andrew Bader. “Continuing best practices in relation to water consumption contributes significantly to the overall health of our infrastructure, especially the water tower. These systems are generally much more efficient to operate in comparison to other systems such as ground storage tanks or booster pumping stations. However, we always want to ensure we are doing all that we can to alleviate any additional stressors that may be caused by overconsumption when possible.”

Plainview’s water tower is given a thorough inspection by the District’s engineers twice per year. During this inspection, a detailed report of the tanks condition is produced. The reports are then reviewed by the District’s superintendent who is a licensed professional engineer. Any minor issues found during these regular inspections are corrected immediately and recommendations are made for larger capital improvement items, if applicable.

Each 2.31 feet of height provides 1.0 pound per square inch (PSI) of pressure. These elevated tanks are typically installed at the highest elevation in the system for this specific reason. The tank’s capacity is designed to provide enough volume to satisfy peak demand conditions during the summer while also having the ability to meet any demand caused by an emergency such as a fire.

“The District has always remained dedicated to our infrastructure as well as the necessary upkeep and any upgrades that can occur,” said PWD Commissioner Michael Chad. “This facility in particular receives routine inspections and any continued needed maintenance throughout the year. With all of our facilities, we remain diligent in our maintenance to make sure that we are providing our residents with the best service and quality possible.”

The Plainview Water District has 6 well sites that collectively house 12 deep groundwater wells with a total approved capacity of 24.5 million gallons per day. The District’s service area is approximately 9 square miles and makes up Plainview, Old-Bethpage and portions of Syosset and Woodbury. Typically, the District pumps approximately 1.7 billion gallons per year from the groundwater aquifer. While the allowable capacity exceeds a typical max day seasonal pumpage of 10 million gallons per day, the District must be prepared to meet fire demands, extreme weather and ability to supply water in case of equipment failures.

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. 

District Once Again Provides Community with Convenient, Drive-Thru Opportunity to Safely Dispose Unwanted Medications

The Plainview Water District (PWD) is hosting its sixth annual Pharmaceutical Take Back Day on Saturday, October 28 between 10:00 am and 1:00 pm at 10 Manetto Hill Road. Residents are encouraged to stop by the District Headquarters to safely and properly dispose of any unwanted or expired medications. As a part of the PWD’s Preserve Plainview initiative, this annual drive-thru event ensures the proper disposal of pharmaceuticals and prevents them from making their way into the aquifer which is our community’s sole-source of drinking water.

“The Plainview Water District highly encourages the Plainview-Old Bethpage community to join us in participating in this year’s Pharmaceutical Take Back Day event—to dispose of their expired or unused medications in a safe and convenient way,” said PWD Chairman Marc Laykind. “We have a collective duty as a community to make all efforts possible to protect our shared environment and drinking water. This event is a quick and easy act that has a significant and long-lasting impact on our environment and sustainability. Year after year, POB residents continue to impress us with their active involvement in this event and we are looking forward to making this year’s the most successful one yet.” 

Normally, if someone flushes medications down the toilet or throws them in the garbage, there is a likelihood that the medications’ contents will ultimately make their way into the community water ways and water supply. If there is an elevated presence of toxins from pharmaceuticals in the groundwater, the District will have no choice but to invest in expensive treatment systems to remove any contaminants before they reach customers’ homes.

“Taking part in Pharmaceutical Take Back Day is an opportunity to responsibly dispose of any unused medications, while playing an active role in safeguarding our community and environment,” said PWD Commissioner Andrew Bader. “Each of us, as members of the POB community, have a responsibility to do all that we can to protect our environment from any potentially harmful substances and reducing our environmental impact. We hope to be joined by many residents who are looking to take action and aid in protecting current and future generations of our community.” 

This year, Pharmaceutical Take Back Day, which is held in partnership with the Nassau County Police Department, will take place on October 28^th from 10:00 am to 1:00 pm. All residents with unused or expired medications are encouraged to drop them off at the District’s headquarters—10 Manetto Hill Road—and may do so anonymously without having to leave their vehicles.  

“The District has continued to host this significantly effective event for the past six years, largely in part of the outpouring support and participation from the Plainview-Old Bethpage community,” said PWD Commissioner Michael Chad. “I am extremely excited to be a part of this year’s Pharmaceutical Take Back Day and to see the POB community’s support first-hand. By participating, residents are directly making a positive impact on public health and caring for our shared environment.”

For additional information about the Plainview Water District’s Pharmaceutical Take Back Day or other District initiatives, please call (516) 931-6469 or visit the Plainview Water District website at 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.