Oyster Bay Water District Commissioner Robert McEvoy

Each month, the Nassau Suffolk Water Commissioners’ Association (NSWCA) provides information through its Educational Speaker Series and Training Programs. At a recent meeting, Oyster Bay Water District Commissioner and former NSWCA President Robert McEvoy provided an in-depth look into financing water projects by going to bond through local townships. Mr. McEvoy brings over 35 years of public service experience to the fold and is the current Comptroller for the Town of Oyster Bay.

The presentation addressed many topics including how to initiate a project and develop a timeline, town board requirements, engaging engineers for specifications and conclusions…to SEQRA hearings and determinations, public hearings and bond resolution.

“There are many steps within the process to secure bonding,” commented Commissioner McEvoy. “Larger projects may require planning and development, while other projects have a more seamless and less intrusive approach. The bottom line is to create a calculated plan, ensure all steps are covered, document everything, and create a compelling presentation with all benefits associated at the public hearing.”

“Voter-Elected Commissioners have a profound responsibility to the residents we serve within our respective Districts. We continually maintain our technology and are constructing advanced treatment systems to deliver an uninterrupted supply of quality water,” stated NSWCA President and Locust Valley Water District Commissioner and Chairperson Patricia Peterson. “By going to bond, we are able to secure funding at very affordable rates to lessen the burden on our rate payers. As Commissioners, we are fiscally prudent, and securing grant dollars also helps to pay down the bonds in shorter time.”

President Peterson added, “We are grateful to have Commissioner McEvoy sit as our Committee Chair for Government Relations and Auditing. His continual education on this topic is extremely important given the current climate on Long Island and New York State regarding regulation and compliance. We are thankful for his experience and to provide guidance for all District Commissioners.”

Long time Franklin Square Water Commissioner Salvatore A. Intagliata passed away on April 27, 2022.  A true gentleman with a deep concern for family and community, Sal was  a member of the Long Island Water Conference (LIWC) and the Nassau Suffolk Water Commissioners’ Association (NSWCA). The NSWCA sends its deepest sympathies to Sal’s  family, friends and professional associates.  He will be greatly missed.

Visitation will be held at The Franklin Funeral Home:

Franklin Funeral Home
42 New Hyde Park Road
Franklin Square, NY 11010

Monday May 2, 2022
2:00pm – 4:00pm
7:00pm – 9:00pm

Mass Tuesday May 3, 2022
10:30am
St Catherine of Sienna Church, Franklin Square

Interment 

St. Charles Cemetery
2105 Wellwood Avenue
Farmingdale, NY 11735

During Spring and Summer

Photo Credit: Hunter Industries

As National Drinking Water Week (May 1 – May 7) reminded us, fresh potable water is Earth’s most valuable resource. The necessity to deliver clean water and to protect Long Island’s aquifer system is of utmost importance.

Here are 10 ways to reduce water consumption, especially during the summer months when lawn and landscape irrigation doubles…even triples!  Water conservation protects the environment, preserves existing resources, and will save you money on your water bill.

1. Most lawns only need 1 to 2 inches of water per week. Water early in the morning when evaporation loss is minimal.
2. Observe proper watering days: Odd-numbered homes water on odd-numbered days, even-numbered homes water on even-numbered days.
3. Monitor potential water leaks by checking hose connections, inspecting washers and repairing leaky exterior spigots.
4. Create your own water supply to water flowers and gardens by collecting rain runoff in rain barrels. A rain barrel is a project you can tackle yourself.
5. Make sure soil is absorbing water and not permitting runoff. Many soil types don’t absorb large amounts of water easily. Use short, repeated watering cycles to deliver water at a rate soil can absorb.
6. Promote growth and use less water with irrigation furrows alongside plants and flowers. Mound soil to form a water collection basin around plants and shrubs.
7. Apply a 2-inch layer of mulch to planting beds to slow water evaporation from soil. Mulch also helps suppress weeds.
8. Check underground sprinklers, pools and spas, and repair any leaks immediately..
9. Help lawns absorb water efficiently by limiting thatch and aerating on a regular basis. Mowing at the proper height for summer growing conditions reduces a lawn’s water needs.
10. Check your lawn irrigation system to make sure it’s working properly.  When running a sprinkler, set a timer to ensure you don’t forget to turn the water off.

Robert J. McEvoy, Commissioner and Chairman of the Oyster Bay Water District, has been elected Secretary of the Board of Directors of the Long Island Water Conference.

Mr. McEvoy has served the people of Oyster Bay as Water Commissioner since 2002 and is a past President of the Nassau Suffolk Water Commissioners’ Association (NSWCA). He adds this new responsibility to a distinguished career of public service that includes 35 years at the Town of Oyster Bay with five years as the Town’s comptroller.

Oyster Bay Water District Commissioner Robert McEvoy

“After nearly twenty years of performing my civic duty within the water service industry, it’s an honor to be elected to the Long Island Water Conference Board of Directors,” said the new LIWC Secretary. “I look forward to working with my fellow Board members and water providers across the Island to keep our precious drinking water safe, reliable and plentiful.”

Mr. McEvoy is also currently the Treasurer for New York 811, Inc. and an active member at the New York State Section of the American Water Works Association (AWWA). A volunteer firefighter for the Oyster Bay Fire Department since 1975, Bob served as Chief from 1986-1988 and as President from 1991-1992.

Best of luck Bob!

Nassau University Medical Center (NUMC) Addresses NSWCA Regarding Pandemic, Concerns and Safety Precautions

Set against a backdrop of the Omicron variant surge, a legal and medical expert from the Nassau University Medical Center (NUMC) addressed the NSWCA membership with a powerful remote learning presentation regarding concerns about the spread of COVID variants and taking safety precautions within the workplace.

NUMC’s Chief Legal Officer Megan Ryan introduced Dr. Janice Verley, Chief of Infectious Diseases, as Dr. Verley spoke on the timely topic of ‘COVID Pandemic, Ongoing Concerns and Safety Precautions’.  NSWCA (www.nswcawater.org) consists of 63 voter-elected water commissioners who collectively are responsible for maintaining and providing the highest standards of water quality, supply and distribution to more than 620,000 consumers, as well as being responsible for the safety of District employees who qualify as essential service providers.

Dr. Verley noted the dizzying statistic of more than 65,800,000 documented cases of COVID since the start of the pandemic, and the startling 850,000 deaths that have been recorded in the United States through January 2022.

“Understanding the facts of how the virus is spread and transmitted is the first step in successfully addressing COVID in the workplace and keeping employees safe,” Dr. Verley stated. The presentation noted the importance of taking rapid antigen tests or the more accurate lab-based PCR test if people feel ill. In the case of hospitalizations, intravenous anti-viral and steroids treatments are being used. The presenters pointed out that further treatments could include monoclonal antibody treatments.

Dr. Verley and Ms. Ryan stressed the multiple precautions that could help prevention and keep workers safe within local water districts. They pointed out workplace safety includes fastidiously maintaining a fully clean and sanitized work environment in the office as well as in vehicles. Employees should be urged to wash hands and sanitize frequently, use proper masks, and maintain safe distances wherever possible. Dr. Verley and Ms. Ryan strongly stressed the necessity to be vaccinated with all appropriate boosters.

NSWCA President and Locust Valley Water District Commissioner and Chairperson Patricia Peterson introduced Ms. Ryan and Dr. Verley to a receptive commissioner-only audience and later thanked them on behalf of the entire NSWCA organization for their informative presentation. “We appreciate the tireless and selfless efforts of our healthcare heroes and dedicated efforts of Dr. Verley on the front lines in the battle against this unprecedented pandemic. Our membership appreciates the knowledge and guidance provided by Nassau University Medical Center experts and collectively we will apply their recommendations within the workplace of water districts.”

Locust Valley Water Commissioner Patricia Peterson named President

The Nassau Suffolk Water Commissioners’ Association (NSWCA) elected a new Board for the 2022 term, which runs through December 31, 2022.

Patricia Peterson

John F. Coumatos

Ralph Atoria

Michael J. Kosinski

Joseph Perry

The newly elected NSWCA 2022 Board includes incoming President Patricia Peterson, Commissioner of the Locust Valley Water District who succeeds outgoing President Amanda R. Field of the Plainview Water District; 1^st Vice President John F. Coumatos, Commissioner of the Bethpage Water District; 2^nd Vice President Ralph Atoria, Commissioner and Chairman of the South Farmingdale Water District; Secretary Joseph Perry, Commissioner of the South Huntington Water District; and Treasurer Michael J. Kosinski, Commissioner and Chairman of the Roslyn Water District.

“It’s a privilege to be part of this distinguished board and to lead the membership of the Nassau Suffolk Water Commissioners’ Association in 2022,” President Peterson remarked. “NSWCA commissioners from all 21 districts which compose our organization are elected by voters to represent their best interests in water supply, quality and regulatory compliance. Long Island has one of the world’s greatest freshwater aquifers. As stewards of the public trust, the NSWCA will continue to promote sustainability, conservation and transparency through education, as well as to protect the invaluable aquifer that supplies the more than 620,000 people we serve.”

Newly elected NSWCA board members are sworn in during a December 2021 general meeting held at Spuntino Restaurant in Williston Park. (Pictured Left to Right): President Patricia Peterson, Second Vice President Ralph Atoria, Secretary Joseph Perry, and Treasurer Michael J. Kosinski.

At a general meeting in December 2021 at Spuntino Restaurant in Williston Park, incoming 2022 President Patricia Peterson presented outgoing 2021 NSWCA President Amanda R. Field with an engraved plaque recognizing Commissioner Field’s contributions as President, and also for serving as an NSWCA Board member since 2018.

(Pictured Left to Right) 2022 NSWCA President Patricia Peterson presents outgoing 2021 NSWCA President Amanda R. Field with an engraved plaque recognizing Commissioner Field’s contributions as President.

During her tenure as President, Commissioner Field directed NSWCA positions on water treatment, advocacy, conservation, sustainability and the state of the aquifer. She actively represented the organization in meetings on Long Island and in Albany and increased the recognition of the organization through outreach and dissemination of information regarding the responsibilities and importance of voter-elected, commissioner-run water districts.

Commissioner Field successfully continued the 2021 NSWCA Speaker Series at in-person and virtual meetings that featured luminaries such as former Nassau County Executive Laura Curran; Francis X. DeBobes, Chairman, Nassau County Fire Commission; Deborah Welt, Deputy Executive Director, Nassau County Civil Service Commission and many others.

President Peterson commented, “On behalf of the Board and the members of the Nassau Suffolk Water Commissioners’ Association, I thank Commissioner Amanda Field for all her efforts and services at the helm of this great organization. In an era where COVID has presented daily challenges, Commissioner Field’s leadership has prevailed in promoting positioning and messaging so important to our membership and to the vast communities across Long Island that our members represent.”

Re-elected and newly elected Commissioners to serve three-year terms from 1/2/22 – 12/31/24

Voters in both Nassau and Suffolk Counties made their selections at the polls on Tuesday, December 14, 2021, electing or re-electing water commissioners in 21 Long Island commissioner-run water districts. The Nassau Suffolk Water Commissioners’ Association commissioners are collectively responsible for maintaining and providing the highest standards of water quality, supply and distribution to more than 620,000 consumers

2021 NSWCA President and Plainview Water District Commissioner Amanda R. Field commented, “I am extremely pleased to welcome our newly elected commissioners and returning colleagues to the NSWCA. Commissioner-run water districts are hyperlocal and by their very nature, commissioner elections are held annually. All registered residents are encouraged to exercise their voting privilege and vote for their candidate of choice that’s running for the commissioner. Candidate platforms include such topics as conservation, sustainability, governmental compliance, water quality and district economics.”

Newly-elected or re-elected commissioners are as follows:

• Ed Scott, Albertson Water District Newly-elected
• John F. Coumatos, Bethpage Water District Re-elected
• Italo J. Vacchio, Carle Place Water District Re-elected
• Glenn Barnett, Cathedral Gardens Water District Re-elected         ­
• Madeline Presta, Franklin Square Water District Re-elected
• Alan Cooper, Garden City Park Water Newly-elected
• Rod Ford, Glenwood Water District Newly-elected
• James Logan, Greenlawn Water District Re-elected
• Karl M. Schweitzer, Hicksville Water District Re-elected
• Thomas Abbate, Jericho Water District Re-elected
• Charles Savinetti, Jr., Locust Valley Water District Newly-elected
• Brian Morris, Manhasset-Lakeville Water District Re-elected
• Michael E. Mazzola, Massapequa Water District Re-elected
• Richard P. Niznik, Oyster Bay Water District Re-elected
• Andrew N. Bader, Plainview Water District Re-elected
• David Brackett, Port Washington Water District Re-elected
• Michael Kosinski, Roslyn Water District Re-elected
• John Hirt, South Farmingdale Water District Re-elected
• Joseph Perry, South Huntington Water District Re-elected
• Joseph M. Marando, West Hempstead Water District Re-elected
• Rodney Caines, Westbury Water District Re-elected

Re-elected and newly elected Commissioners announced by NSWCA

Essential Service Providers Work Harmoniously to Continue to Protect Local Consumers Water Supply and Delivery a Steady Flow of Water to Fire Fires

For over a century, fire districts and water districts have worked synergistically in providing essential services to Long Islanders. If water pressure and flow is not maintained to the highest level at all times, it would compromise firefighters’ ability to hook up to fire hydrants and fight fires. Communications between member water districts of the Nassau Suffolk Water Commissioners’ Association (NSWCA) and local fire districts is imperative, and the most recent meeting between these two essential service providers demonstrates a dedicated commitment to the community.

During a fall 2021 NSWCA meeting, hosted by Manhasset Lakeville Water District, a presentation was led by Francis X. DeBobes, Chairman, Nassau County Fire Commission. Chairman DeBobes discussed maximizing efficiencies between fire districts and water districts and commended the 21 member districts from Nassau and Suffolk Counties for providing the more than adequate amount of water pressure and flow needed from hydrants, especially during times when water district well sites are being retrofit to treat water from emerging compounds. The 30+ year decorated veteran also expressed the importance of having residents comply with backflow testing each year to avoid an undesirable flow of water back into a home or business.

(Pictured Left to Right) John Madden, Supervising Fire Marshal, Office of the Fire Marshal Nassau County; Andrew Schmitt, Jr., Division Supervisor, Office of the Fire Marshal Nassau County; Francis X. DeBobes, Chairman, Nassau County Fire Commission; Amanda R. Field, NSWCA Board President and John F. Coumatos, NSWCA 1st Vice President during a fall 2021 NSWCA and Nassau County Fire Commission meeting and presentation.

Discussions during the presentation included putting a plan together, collectively between the Nassau County Fire Commission and water suppliers to go after federal grants to provide proper funding to replace dated fire equipment and hydrants.

“Many residents may not know that most water suppliers are responsible for our fire hydrants within our neighborhoods and communities,” stated NSWCA President and Plainview Water District Commissioner Amanda Field. “Our member Districts test to ensure each hydrant holds line pressure without leaks, and we perform additional maintenance as recommended by the hydrant manufacturer. We flush our hydrants regularly so our heroic firefighters can rely on us to make sure when they connect to a hydrant, water flow will never be an issue.”

“A lot of education is being provided by water providers about their responsibilities to consumers and it’s something worth noting,” said Commissioner DeBobes. “Fire districts and water districts work hand in hand with one another and in many ways we rely on one another. A fact worth noting is response time from local water districts and local fire districts to an emergency situation can be within minutes…something we take to heart as residents rely on us each and every day.”