In the Event of Power Outages and Other Impacts of Severe Weather, Water Will Keep Flowing

As the East Coast prepares for what experts expect to be a busy hurricane season, the Plainview Water District (PWD) is prepared despite any potential flooding or widespread power outages. The District is well equipped to continue to provide residents with the highest quality water possible, regardless of the weather. During significant storms experienced in our region in the past—such as Irene, Sandy and Isaias—water never stopped flowing to Plainview-Old Bethpage (POB) residents.

“The Plainview Water District rigorously implements precautionary measures to prepare for both short-term and long-term weather-related situations each year,” said PWD Commissioner Marc Laykind. “These plans ensure that our supply and distribution system operations can handle any severe weather. We have made substantial investments in infrastructure and manpower, including advanced monitoring systems and emergency response training to guarantee continuous water flow 24/7.”

All water pumps and treatment facilities rely heavily on electricity in order to operate. If a power outage does occur, the PWD has its own backup emergency generator facilities on standby at all of its plant sites to automatically take over supplying electricity. The generator equipment is maintained year-round and tested frequently to ensure it is always ready when needed. In addition, all members of the PWD are trained and prepared to use the equipment and handle many different emergency situations like hurricanes and tropical storms.

“Providing back-up power to our facilities is a key focus of the PWD’s past and on-going infrastructure and improvement projects,” said PWD Commissioner Andrew Bader. “This self-sufficiency ensures that our operations remain uninterrupted during power outages, thanks to the dedication and expertise of our teams and professional engineers. Their efforts in implementing and upholding these robust systems are crucial to maintaining our service reliability even under extreme conditions.”

With comprehensive emergency response plans and state-of-the-art infrastructure in place, the District is ready to tackle any challenges posed by severe weather. PWD’s dedicated team has conducted extensive preparations and training to ensure rapid and efficient response in the event of a storm. The Plainview Water District remains committed to serving and protecting the POB community through every season.

The District is also a member of New York’s statewide Water/Wastewater Agency Response Network (NYWARN) of utilities that encourages and supports emergency preparedness across the state, as well as 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. The PWD is proud to help assist its neighboring water systems in case of an emergency.

“When facing severe weather conditions, the potential for concerns can be quite high, particularly when faced with challenges such as power outages,” said PWD Commissioner Michael Chad. “The District aims to alleviate any unnecessary worries for our residents and local businesses during such times. They can rest assured that we are equipped to handle whatever challenges these storms present. Our team is ready to respond, ensuring the Plainview-Old Bethpage community that we will consistently deliver top-notch water services, regardless of the weather conditions.”

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.