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.