The Nassau Suffolk Water Commissioners’ Association (NSWCA), was recently addressed on industry changes and COVID-19 by Michael Beyer, President of Bancker Construction Corporation (Islandia, NY).

“There is a new space race today, and this one is underground,” Mr. Beyer stated. “On Long Island it involves lane issues for limited real estate, essentially creating a competitive environment for utilities such as electric, gas and water services. Given the region’s aging infrastructure, the need for an overriding management plan is paramount to secure the delivery of future services.”

Mr. Beyer also discussed safety measures that his organization has taken with the advent of the COVID-19 virus pandemic.

“Education begins with training our own people about the hazards of the coronavirus, health surveys each morning, and providing the necessary Personal Protective Equipment (PPE). This includes the use of masks and social distancing, sanitary processes like hand washing stations on all vehicles, and nightly truck sanitizing. Communications outreach to educate the public is the key to project success, including timing and project scope. At Bancker, we canvass the neighborhoods, outreach to homeowners in the affected zone via social media and continually work to make customers part of the process.”

NSWCA President and Hicksville Water District Commissioner Mr. William Schuckmann commented, “our Association represents 21 voter-elected Long Island water districts, who have the day in, day out responsibility of providing potable drinking water to more than 620,000 consumers. We are grateful to Mr. Michael Beyer for his state of the industry update and future outlook. Given the need for conservation and long term sustainability, and in view of aging infrastructure and other industry changes, we will continue to seek greater efficiencies and cost savings while continuing to be compliant with all New York State, federal and local regulations.”

Nassau Suffolk Water Commissioners’ Association at Virtual Meeting To Review Budget Process And Monitoring Of Financial Performance

Recognized Accounting Expert From JKL Municipal Accounting Solutions, LLC Leads Presentation

Carle Place, NY, USA . . . As part of their on-going and Continuing Education Speaker Series, the Nassau Suffolk Water Commissioners’ Association (NSWCA), which represents 21 separate Long Island based water districts, assembled for a virtual meeting on August 26, for a special seminar organized and conducted by JKL Municipal Accounting Solutions, LLC of Smithtown, NY.

Ms. Jill K. Gunzel-Lemke, CPA and Managing Member of JKL Municipal Accounting Solutions, led the presentation on the importance of proper budgetary planning, including revenue and expenditure estimates; proper implementation of a budget; and the continued monitoring along with the resulting financial performance of the budgets within the water districts.  Ms. Lemke is the managing member of JKL Municipal Accounting Solutions, LLC and possesses over 20 years of experience working with governmental entities. Having a significant concentration on financial statement preparation, reporting, accounting systems and controls, budgeting and planning, her extensive experience allows her to provide insight and advice to municipal clients on reporting, trends and best practices.

Hicksville Water District Commissioner and NSWCA President and William Schuckmann commented, “We were delighted with the presentation conducted by Jill. Running one of these sessions is challenging enough, but to handle this virtually has a whole other set of issues. Jill’s presentation was most informative and quite important to our members, as we are always cognizant of ways to improve operations, while also looking at both greater efficiencies and cost savings with our services at NSWCA. We thank Jill for sharing her insights, knowledge, and time with us.”

Cuomo, Schuckmann on New Standards for Emerging Contaminants.

In a groundbreaking move, New York State Governor Andrew Cuomo announced the adoption of a first-in-the-nation drinking water standard for the emerging contaminant 1,4-dioxane. The New York State Department of Health’s Public Health and Health Planning Council unanimously approved setting the maximum contaminant level of 1 part per billion* for 1,4-dioxane.

In addition, Governor Cuomo announced maximum contaminant levels for emerging contaminants PFOA and PFOS which are among the lowest in the nation at 10 parts per trillion**. These announcements follow a public comment period and approval by the Public Health and Health Planning Council. Every water provider in the state is required to meet all water quality requirements.

“The Nassau Suffolk Water Commissioners’ Association (NSWCA) applauds the clarity and definition brought to the situation in New York State,” commented NSWCA President Bill Schuckmann. “Certainly, the 21 voter-elected NSWCA members and other water providers throughout Long Island where we have a single source aquifer, have aggressively pursued getting treatment systems up and running. The treatment systems, Advanced Oxidation Process (AOP) and Granular Activated Carbon (GAC), are complex, and we are proud of the substantial progress that has been made to date in such a short amount of time.”According to figures released by the Long Island Water Conference (LIWC), Long Island water providers have collectively spent more than $150 million to date to design and construct state-of-the-art treatment facilities with another $350 million to be spent in the next 12 months, and an additional $350 million to be spent within the next five years.

“This is an extremely important issue that we are tackling head on,” Mr. Schuckmann added. “Our responsibility is to deliver the best drinking water possible for all our communities.  It’s that simple. The Long Island public can rest assured that we have been doing and will continue to do everything possible to fast-track each of these projects.”

NSWCA Commissioners Review New Monitoring Standards for Drinking Water:  Industry and Regulatory Specialists James Roberts and James Neri Conduct Presentation

 CARLE PLACE, NY, USA . . . As part of their regularly scheduled Educational Speaker Series, the Nassau Suffolk Water Commissioners’ Association (NSWCA) received a presentation by H2M Architects + Engineers (Melville, NY) focused on new industry and regulatory standards for drinking water in New York State.

James J. Roberts, P.E., Vice President, Market Director of Water & Wastewater, and James L. Neri, P.E., Division Director – Water Resources, of H2M led the discussions. The presentation addressed recent developments and regulatory implications of New York State adopting new standard levels for drinking water involving the contaminants PFOS (Perfluorooctanesulfonic Acid), PFOA (Perfluorooctanoic Acid), as well as the emerging contaminant,1,4-Dioxane.

Image Left:  James J. Roberts; Image Right: James L. Neri

Mr. Roberts and Mr. Neri, both recognized engineering industry and regulatory experts, reviewed the contaminants with particular emphasis on 1,4-Dioxane and its new drinking water concentration levels. Using examples of 18 wells across five water districts, they advised the NSWCA commissioners on construction and performance testing.  Also addressed were updates involving the American Water Infrastructure Act (AWIA) and an overview of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and their position on perchlorate determinations, as well as potential future grants.

NSWCA President and Hicksville Water District Commissioner William Schuckmann commented, “We are  very grateful for the detailed presentation of facts. Both Mr. Robert’s and Mr. Neri’s presentations were most informative for our members, especially in light of Governor Cuomo’s recent announcement of New York State adopting a first-in-the-nation approach in addressing these contaminants in our drinking water – 1,4-Dioxane in particular.  These new standards are stringent, among the lowest nationwide for these contaminants, and they serve as a foundation for protecting New York’s public health now and into the future.”

Nassau Suffolk Water Commissioners’ Association Meeting Examines New Technology: Industry Expert Josh Ordway Leads Presentation

Carle Place, New York, USA . . . As part of an on-going Educational Speaker Series, the Nassau Suffolk Water Commissioners’ Association (NSWCA), which represents 21 voter-elected Long Island water districts, met for a presentation on water backflow automation by VEPO Solutions, of Elmsford, New York.

Backflow within potable water systems is a serious, undesirable condition where pressure drops can accidentally allow water to flow back into the water distribution system, opening the potential for pollutants to enter. Mr. Josh Ordway, VEPO Solutions Vice President Marketing and Sales, led the discussion stressing the importance of water backflow management and control of such possibilities. VEPO’s CrossConnex product and service offerings represent green solutions that are expressly designed to fully automate and improve backflow management programs within Long Island water districts.

A recognized backflow expert, Mr. Ordway described how this advanced technology enhances and improves existing backflow management programs and also helps to ensure full compliance with all Nassau/Suffolk County regulations, as well as the Safe Water Drinking Act. Most importantly, this technology aids in protecting the health and safety of water consumers, by preventing both chemical contamination (i.e. sodium hydroxide, insecticides, etc.) and bacterial contamination (i.e. typhoid, dysentery, salmonella, etc).

Photo: Left to Right: NSWCA Secretary Patricia Peterson of the Locust Valley Water District; 1st Vice President Amanda Field of the Plainview Water District; NSWCA President William Schuckmann of the Hicksville Water District; NSWCA Treasurer Lawrence F. Zaino Jr. of the Carle Place Water District;2^nd Vice President John F. Coumatos of the Bethpage Water District.

Photo Credit: PP Stanco, PMG

NSWCA President and Hicksville Water District Commissioner Mr. William Schuckmann commented, “as an Association that represents over 620,000 consumers, we are dedicated to understanding and implementing new environmentally safe and green solutions in our water distribution systems. We were very pleased with the presentation conducted by Mr. Ordway. The technology reviewed is highly important to all our member districts as we seek to improve safety, while also pursuing cost savings and greater efficiencies. We thank VEPO for sharing their time and knowledge.”

Photo: NSWCA President William Schuckmann of the Hicksville Water District

Photo Credit: PP Stanco, PMG