The COVID-19 pandemic has affected everyday life the world over, and Long Island water providers have met the challenge without exception since the terrible virus first appeared on these shores. The members of the Nassau Suffolk Water Commissioners’ Association (NSWCA), which consists of 21 voter-elected water districts, have kept the water flowing to over 620,000 consumers without interruption and in compliance with all local, federal and state regulations.

Bill Schuckmann NSWCA President and Patricia Peterson NSWCA Secretary

Long Island’s public water supply remains unaffected by the COVID-19 coronavirus outbreak. The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) and the World Health Organization have confirmed that the COVID-19 virus is not waterborne and that the standard disinfection done by water suppliers as regular practices are an effective method for inactivating the COVID-19virus. Still, one important aspect has changed.

“I believe this pandemic is rewriting the dictionary on the definition of the word hero,” Nassau Suffolk Water Commissioners’ Association (NSWCA) President Bill Schuckmann commented. “It certainly fits all those on the front lines, the medical personnel, EMTs, police, firefighters and now also water technicians, field crews, supervisors and engineers – who are considered essential service providers.  They aren’t ordinarily thought of as heroes, but they are men and women who have risen above the call of duty, braving the dangers of this devastating pandemic on behalf of the public we serve.”

Mr. Schuckmann, who is also a Hicksville Water District Commissioner, stated, “I am proud of each and every one of our service men and women from all our Districts, and I am grateful for their efforts.”

Fortunately, there have been no issues in carrying out the operations of supplying water to homes and businesses or to firefighting in the communities serviced by the NSWCA.

Gary Brosnan, South Farmingdale Water Commissioner

“Though the suddenness of the pandemic caused water providers to adapt our existing emergency procedures and protocols, our voter-elected commissioners and the superintendents throughout our member districts were able to deploy revised safety plans quickly and effectively”, Gary Brosnan, South Farmingdale Water District Commissioner and NSWCA member commented. “Implementation began without a hitch and has continued smoothly, which is a tribute to being proactive and to having a solid plan in place to begin with.”

The adaptations proved highly successful. Through its public access website, www.nswcawater.org, the NSWCA posted and continues to post urgent news and updates about COVID-19, stressing District response and compliance. NSWCA meetings and trainings are now held virtually. Communications between all 21 commissioner-run Districts continue regularly through conference calls and emails. More information was posted on the NSWCA intranet section regarding supply chain, rescheduling of meetings, ongoing communications and most importantly, safety of the work force.

While all commissioner-run District offices have been closed to the public and all home visits put on hold except for emergencies, providing water around the clock still requires 24/7 supervision. That, in turn requires trained professional people. Safety precautions were detailed and communicated to all workers in all member Districts in both Nassau and Suffolk, ranging from hygiene regulations to social distancing to mandatory usage of masks and gloves.

“While work plans remained up to the individual Districts, the NSWCA advised on different kinds of split shifts and staggering work times, as well as working from different locations,” added Commissioner Patricia Peterson, Locust Valley Water District Commissioner and NSWCA Secretary.

“It’s not over yet,” President Schuckmann stated categorically. “No one can predict when this situation will end, and there is a high probability that some form of the coronavirus may return in the fall. If it does, the NSWCA and the other Long Island water suppliers will be prepared with refined regulations, deeper stocks of chemicals and disinfectants, and a battle-tested program of protocols and procedures to continue to deliver an uninterrupted supply of water to residents and businesses.”

Tribute to Water Service Supervisor Bernard Murtagh – Gone but Not Forgotten – 5/7/2020

Barney Murtagh started working for the Roslyn Water District in 1977 and worked his way up to the position of Water Service Supervisor. He had the vast responsibility of assuring that over 17,000 residents received a safe and plentiful supply of drinking water each and every day. Over the course of his career, it was evident that his passion for his profession and helping others was and always will be an inspiration to us all.

“It was truly a pleasure working with Barney. His devotion to the District and compassion towards our staff was always apparent to me as he treated us more like family than co-workers,” stated Roslyn Water District Superintendent Richard Passariello. “He was always there when we needed him and always handled every situation the right way. In Barney’s retirement letter, he thanked the Board for the privilege of having been able to spend so much of his life at the Roslyn Water District, but we were the ones that need to thank him for his dedication and impeccable service for more than 30 years with us. I consider myself lucky to have had the opportunity to work with Barney, but more importantly, I’m blessed to have had him as a friend.”

Dear Long Island residents,

Foremost, we hope that everyone is staying safe and abiding by all health recommendations from the World Health Organization and the Center for Disease Control and Prevention. While this COVID-19 outbreak has changed much of our daily lives, it will not hinder our unbreakable spirit to better serve the communities we love.

Click here for the full PDF.

The spread of the coronavirus represents an unprecedented situation. NSWCA member districts have been proactive in addressing the situation and in adhering to the conditions of the existing state of emergency for the public well-being.

Important Points:

1. The virus is not waterborne.
2. Your water supply is safe to use in all ways.
3. Water flow, water pressure and water services are not affected or interrupted by this crisis.
4. There is no need to stockpile bottled water.

Beyond water concerns, and for the public good:

• It is imperative to be vigilant and to obey good hygiene practices. Please refer to the information and health messages from the Center for Disease Control (CDC) suggestions at https://www.cdc.gov
• Monitor for and observe changes in all federal and New York State guidelines.
• If you or family members are sick or showing signs of sickness including a cold, respiratory concerns, cough, fatigue or fever, stay home. Having one or multiple symptoms does not mean you have the virus.
• Any person who has been told to self-quarantine must stay home.

Paying Water Bills:

This is a very stressful and difficult time for everyone within our community. Contact your local NSWCA member district for more information about public access.

Please observe all hygiene recommendations. We appreciate your cooperation in dealing with this unprecedented COVID-19 crisis.

Dear NSWCA Member:

NSWCA has decided to cancel its meeting for Monday, March 16, 2020 out of an abundance of caution. Many organizations such as the LIWC and LICAP have canceled meetings and events in response to concerns surrounding the coronavirus.

As of today, the World Health Organization (WHO)  has declared the coronavirus a pandemic.

Many of our members fall into the sensitive population category, so it would be sensible to cancel our meeting at this time.

In lieu of an in person meeting, we are looking at the possibility of setting up a conference call.

We will forward the conference call information, including date and time, in a separate email once we get it set up.

Regards,
NSWCA Board of Directors