New Initiative Aimed to Promote Water Conservation throughout Plainview-Old Bethpage

The Plainview Water District (PWD) is proud to announce the launch of its innovative Blue Business Partner Program, an initiative aimed at recognizing and supporting local businesses that prioritize water conservation and environmental sustainability. This free program provides businesses with resources, recognition, and incentives to implement water-saving measures and demonstrate leadership in environmental stewardship.

“The Blue Business Partner Program reflects the Plainview Water District’s commitment to conserving our most precious resource and building a sustainable future for the Plainview-Old Bethpage community,” said PWD Commissioner Marc Laykind. “By working together with local businesses, we can recognize those who are following best practices and can make a meaningful impact on our water usage while fostering environmental awareness in our community.”

The Blue Business Partner Program encourages businesses to adopt best practices and technologies to reduce water consumption. Participating businesses will receive official program certificates and stickers to display at their establishments, acknowledgment on PWD’s website and social media channels, and the opportunity to be celebrated as leaders of sustainability within the Plainview-Old Bethpage community.

“Our local businesses have always been at the heart of the POB community, and this program is an opportunity to showcase their leadership,” said PWD Commissioner Andrew Bader “The District is thrilled to collaborate with businesses that share our vision of a sustainable and water-conscious Plainview-Old Bethpage.”

The program not only supports the shared environment but also benefits participants directly by helping them reduce operating costs through smarter water management. PWD hopes this program will inspire widespread participation, strengthening the community’s collective efforts to conserve water. Businesses that participate in the program will serve as leaders in sustainability, setting a new standard for responsible water usage.

“Preserving our environment and sole-source aquifer is a shared responsibility, and our Blue Business Partner Program empowers businesses to be part of the solution,” said PWD Commissioner Michael Chad. “PWD encourages any local businesses that are interested to take part in this great initiative. If any businesses or residents have any questions about their water usage or the program itself, we are more than happy to assist.”

Participation in the Blue Business Partner Program is free and easy. Businesses interested in joining can visit https://plainviewwater.org/blue-business-program/ for more information.

If you have 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 District updates by visiting www.plainviewwater.org and also follow the Plainview Water District on Facebook at www.facebook.com/plainviewwater.

The Plainview Water District (PWD) would like to remind residents that all fire hydrants within the District are tested annually as part of routine maintenance to ensure they remain fully operational and ready for use in the event of an emergency.

“Testing hydrants is an essential part of our comprehensive maintenance program, ensuring that this infrastructure is functional and ready for use when required by fire departments and emergency responders,” said PWD Commissioner Marc Laykind. “This regular task is a significant responsibility we uphold to provide the highest quality water and ensure it is always accessible for our community.”

These annual inspections are an important measure to uphold the reliability of the PWD’s water infrastructure. During this routine maintenance the District performs pressure tests at each hydrant. These tests are performed by briefly opening up the hydrants to check that adequate flow and pressure is available throughout the PWD’s service territory. By conducting these tests, the District ensures that each hydrant meets performance standards and is prepared to assist our first responders.

“The District’s exceptional staff are highly trained in all aspects of maintenance, particularly in routine hydrant testing,” said PWD Commissioner Andrew Bader. “This testing is a fundamental component of our annual procedures, as it plays a crucial role in ensuring the quality of our infrastructure and facilitating its ongoing enhancement. We extend our gratitude to the District staff for maintaining system integrity and consistently ensuring that our district exceeds all standards.”

While the hydrant 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 minerals that have built-up in the distribution system over time. Residents can rest assured that it 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 approximately two minutes or until it clears up.

“As this maintenance occurs annually, the District will consistently notify residents in advance,” said PWD Commissioner Michael Chad. “During the time of maintenance, residents may notice temporary discoloration in their water, which is harmless and will resolve quickly. We encourage any residents with questions about their nearest hydrant to contact the District, as we are glad to assist.”

In the event of any power outage, the Plainview Water District has its own emergency electrical generator facilities, which are regularly maintained and always on standby to keep water flowing in the event of a severe weather event. These generators keep pumps and treatment facilities online without interruption. In addition, District staff members are well trained to handle a diverse list of emergency situations.

In addition, the PWD encourages residents to sign up for the Plainview Water District’s emergency notification system. The District’s reverse-911 system, provided by Rave Mobile Safety, is capable of delivering urgent messages directly to residents via phone, text or email. By having residents submit their most up-to-date contact information, the District’s reverse-911 system will be able to contact residents and business owners with information regarding water-related emergencies. All information is securely stored in District databases and is only used in the case of an emergency.

If you have 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 District updates by visiting www.plainviewwater.org and also follow the Plainview Water District on Facebook at www.facebook.com/plainviewwater.

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The Plainview Water District (PWD) recently held its swearing-in ceremony in honor of Commissioner Andrew Bader’s re-election to the Board of Commissioners for another three years. Commissioner Bader, who first started serving on the Board in 2010, has been committed to serving the highest quality water possible to all of Plainview-Old Bethpage’s residents along with fellow commissioners Marc Laykind and Michael Chad.

Andrew Bader is sworn in as Plainview Water District Commissioner at the most recent District Board meeting.

“It is genuinely a privilege to receive the support of our residents who have allowed me to continue on in this position,” stated PWD Commissioner Andrew Bader. “I love our community dearly, and being active in this role continues to be an honor. My fellow commissioners and I are dedicated to tirelessly improving our community’s water system and ensuring that we meet the needs of every individual we serve.”

Throughout his time with the District, Commissioner Bader has actively promoted the broader implementation of crucial water conservation strategies to protect the community’s most valuable natural resource. Additionally, he has played a key role in leading PWD’s initiatives on emerging contaminant treatment, establishing the District as a frontrunner in these island-wide efforts.

“I am eager to see the progress the District will keep making in building essential treatment facilities, completing ongoing projects, and safeguarding the quality of our drinking water for both present and future generations,” stated Commissioner Bader. “The District has taken a very proactive approach in seeking our capital infrastructure investments, resulting in over $73 million being invested into our community’s water systems.”

In addition to his work in ensuring water in Plainview-Old Bethpage and Long Island, Commissioner Bader serves as a Vice President at Mercury Tax Service, Inc. He uses this background in order to ensure the PWD is a fiscally responsible water provider that can continue to give residents access to a quality and dependable water supply today and into the future.

Commissioner Bader has also served on several different positions within Long Island’s water industry, including holding the position of chairman of the Long Island Water Conference, president of the Nassau Suffolk Water Commissioners Association and a proud member of the American Water Works Association.

If you have 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 District updates by visiting www.plainviewwater.org and also follow the Plainview Water District on Facebook at www.facebook.com/plainviewwater.

More than 100 Toys Collected for Children in the Community

The Plainview-Old Bethpage community once again showed its generosity by contributing to the annual toy drive at the Plainview Water District. As it has done in years past, the Plainview Water District partnered with the Toys for Tot’s Foundation, sponsored by the U.S. Marine Corps Reserve. The District headquarters functioned as an official drop-off site for the foundation, successfully collecting more than 100 toys.

“The Plainview Water District loves getting the opportunity to take part in this great initiative each and every year,” said PWD Commissioner Marc Laykind. “Each year, the POB residents band together to do their part and support this great event. The communities’ contributions make each holiday season that much more special for so many individuals and families.”

The U.S. Marine Corps Reserve ‘Toys for Tots’ Foundation is a nonprofit organization that aims to provide all children across the United States with happiness and joy throughout the holiday season. Through the gift of a new toy, disadvantaged children will not be overlooked during the holidays, and will know that a community of people care for them.

“The District is dedicated to assisting the community in any way it can whether its providing high-quality water or participating in events like these to put a smile on someone’s face,” said PWD Commissioner Bader. “We are proud to lead these initiatives and take part in community events like these. Thank you to the entire Plainview-Old Bethpage community for your support each time.”

Since the District started this partnership several years ago, hundreds of toys have been donated from the community to support this cause. The Plainview Water District thanks the Plainview-Old Bethpage community for their generosity and continued support.

“We often underestimate and forget how much we take for granted each holiday season,” said PWD Commissioner Michael Chad. “Whether it’s the water in our taps, food on the table, or gifts our loved ones received–it’s easy to get lost in the shuffle and forget how there are individuals within our own community who do not have the same as us. We hope by taking part in this effort that we can make at least one person in our community’s holiday all the more magical.”

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.

(L-R) Plainview Water District Commissioner Andrew Bader, Plainview Water District Commissioner Marc Laykind and Plainview Water District Commissioner Michael Chad with the Toy for Tots Donations.