Plainview Water District Encourages Students to Make Eco-Friendly Choices in 2025-26

As the 2025-2026 school year begins, the Plainview Water District (PWD) encourages students and families to consider reusable water bottles as part of their back-to-school preparations. This small change not only reduces reliance on single-use plastics but also supports broader efforts to manage and conserve water resources within the Plainview-Old Bethpage community.

“Every time a student refills a reusable water bottle instead of using a disposable one, they’re taking an important step in conserving our sole-source aquifer,” said PWD Commissioner Marc Laykind. “Simple choices like this help limit water waste and teach students the value of protecting a resource that our entire community depends on. Each refill helps build a culture of sustainability within Plainview-Old Bethpage.”

Students attending schools in the Plainview-Old Bethpage School District can take advantage of water refill stations placed throughout campuses, including hallways, gyms and cafeterias. These stations are designed for reusable bottles, making it simple for students to stay hydrated throughout the day.

“By using a refillable water bottle during the school day and at extracurricular activities, students can easily access high-quality water from the Plainview Water District,” said PWD Commissioner Andrew Bader. “This is the same water that comes from residents’ taps, which is a cost-effective alternative to bottled water and supports environmental responsibility.”

Choosing tap water or school refill stations over single-use bottled water is a smart choice for both students and the community. Plainview Water District water is carefully monitored and regulated by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), which enforces strict water quality standards, and the District must regularly test and report results to local and state agencies. Bottled water, on the other hand, is regulated by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), which has far less oversight and does not require the same frequent testing or public reporting.

Tap water also contains essential minerals, like calcium and magnesium, that are often removed during bottled water processing. By using refillable bottles and accessing school hydration stations, students can stay hydrated, reduce unnecessary plastic waste, save money and take an active role in conserving the community’s water resources.

“These reusable bottles empower students to be part of a larger effort in their community,” said PWD Commissioner Michael Chad. “They make it easier to stay hydrated, encourage consistent water intake and reduce dependence on single-use plastics. Many bottles hold more than standard 16-ounce options, supporting longer-lasting hydration throughout the day.”

In addition to using a refillable bottle, students can take other steps to reduce water usage and contribute to community-wide water conservation this school year:

• Turn off taps when not in use: Whether brushing teeth or washing hands, brief pauses can save gallons of water daily.
• Report leaks: Noticing a dripping faucet or broken sprinkler in school or at home? Alert the appropriate staff or family members.
• Participate in school or community water initiatives: Many local programs encourage students to plant drought-resistant greenery, maintain school gardens, or take part in water-awareness projects.
• Use water wisely during extracurricular activities: Encourage teammates and friends to refill bottles instead of buying single-use beverages.

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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District Highlights Innovation, Investment and a Lasting Commitment

to Providing the Highest-Quality Water

The Plainview Water District (PWD) is excited to recognize National Water Quality Month, which is observed each August to highlight the importance of delivering the highest-quality water to communities across the country. Established by the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) in 2005, this national observance serves as a reminder of the critical role water quality plays in public well-being and daily life.

“National Water Quality Month gives us the chance to reflect on the significant advances in technology that have been implemented locally to consistently deliver high-quality water to our residents,” said PWD Chairman Marc Laykind. “Through advanced treatment systems and continued strategic investments and improvements, we continue to reinforce the trust our community places in its water supply.”

PWD continues to be at the forefront of regional efforts to tackle emerging contaminants. With six advanced treatment facilities currently in operation—each designed to effectively remove 1,4-dioxane, Perfluorooctanoic Acid (PFOA), and Perfluorooctane Sulfonate (PFOS)—the District has positioned itself as a leader in meeting and exceeding evolving regulatory requirements. These facilities use a combination of Advanced Oxidation Processes (AOP) and Granular Activated Carbon (GAC) technologies to treat water drawn from 12 deep groundwater wells, enabling a total capacity of 24.5 million gallons per day during peak demand. Additionally, the District has been making significant progress on one of the region’s most advanced water treatment facilities, which will be the first locally to combine AOP, GAC and specialized nitrate and perchlorate treatment.

The District’s service area spans approximately nine square miles, encompassing Plainview, Old Bethpage and parts of Syosset and Woodbury. On average, the District pumps about 1.7 billion gallons of water each year from Long Island’s aquifer system. PWD is recognized for having one of the highest numbers of AOP systems in service among public water providers on Long Island.

“Our community relies on PWD to deliver the highest-quality water year-round and we’ve made significant investments to make sure that never changes,” said PWD Commissioner Andrew Bader. “Our team works proactively to incorporate the newest technologies and best practices, ensuring long-term performance and compliance with all drinking water standards.”

Each year, PWD performs rigorous testing for more than 160 potential contaminants—including some contaminants that are not currently regulated—to ensure that every drop of water reaching homes and businesses exceeds federal, state, and local water quality standards. The District remains fully compliant with New York’s regulations enacted in August 2020 for 1,4-dioxane and with the EPA’s recently strengthened maximum contaminant levels (MCLs) for PFOA and PFOS.

“National Water Quality Month reminds us that access to reliable drinking water doesn’t happen by chance—it’s the result of constant oversight, skilled operations, and thoughtful investment,” said PWD Commissioner Michael Chad. “The District’s team is committed to ensuring that the water keeps running today and for decades to come, so that Plainview-Old Bethpage families can continue to depend on this essential resource.”

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.           

Multi-year class action settlement against 3M Company will provide local water providers with critical financial support for PFAS remediation efforts

The Plainview Water District (PWD) is among several Long Island water providers set to receive a significant financial award from a historic class action settlement with 3M Company. This national litigation—stemming from the widespread contamination caused by PFAS chemicals, commonly referred to as “forever chemicals”—has resulted in settlement funding being allocated to public water providers across the country. Over the course of the next ten years, the District will receive approximately $4 million to help offset the considerable costs associated with constructing, operating and maintaining advanced treatment systems to ensure the continued delivery of high-quality drinking water to the Plainview-Old Bethpage community.

“These contaminants have posed a threat to our groundwater and the infrastructure needed to remove them is both complex and costly,” said Marc Laykind, PWD Commissioner. “PWD has been committed to addressing the issue of contaminants head on, having been one of the first in the region to construct facilities specifically designed to treat for PFAS as part of new infrastructure and upgrades to existing facilities since 2017. This funding helps ensure that the financial responsibility for this pollution falls on those who caused it, not on the public water providers working to clean it up.”

The settlement will help support long-term operations and maintenance of the already installed and in service treatment systems. This outcome represents a significant victory for communities across Long Island, as it offers financial relief from the ongoing costs tied to maintaining water quality that not only meets but exceeds all state and federal regulations.

“This funding helps support the Districts continued investment in the advanced technologies needed to keep our water reliable and the highest-quality possible,” said Andrew Bader, PWD Commissioner. “It represents a meaningful acknowledgment that local water providers should not have to shoulder the full financial burden of addressing contamination they did not create.”

Since 2017, the Plainview Water District has been at the forefront of implementing cutting-edge water treatment technologies to address emerging contaminants such as PFAS and 1,4-dioxane. This includes the installation of Granular Activated Carbon (GAC) filters and Advanced Oxidation Process (AOP) systems across several facilities. Approximately $70 million is being invested within the Plainview-Old Bethpage community to construct and upgrade these treatment facilities. While a significant portion of these capital projects have received support from state and federal grant programs, PWD has had to absorb the substantial ongoing costs of operating and maintaining these systems to ensure uninterrupted delivery of high-quality drinking water. The funds awarded through this settlement will play an important role in helping to offset those operational and maintenance expenses from POB residents.

“Our team has remained focused on staying ahead of evolving water quality standards by investing early and aggressively in treatment infrastructure,” said Michael Chad, PWD Commissioner. “These efforts were not only necessary but urgent and having additional financial resources through this settlement will help us maintain this critical momentum.”

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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