Commissioner-Run Water Districts Sustaining Uninterrupted Service During Storm

Friday, 04 January 2013 00:00

Following the wake of Superstorm Sandy, a full-scale assessment of Long Island’s utility resources and management is still in progress. According to officials at Nassau-Suffolk Water Commissioners Association (NSWCA), lack of adequate preparation and leadership caused failures in nearly every major utility from power to gas to communications, there were no failures or interruption of service among Long Island’s 21 commissioner-run water districts, including South Farmingdale Water District.  

At a recent NSWCA meeting held in Hicksville, NSCWA President Robert McEvoy commented, “I’m proud to announce that we (locally run water districts) were the only major utility on Long Island that did not fail to service during Superstorm Sandy.”  

McEvoy said that diligent preparations and plans put in place throughout each of the NSCWA’s districts ensured that all consumers have clean, safe water during and after any major crisis situation.  

According to McEvoy, each district was ready for the storm with practiced emergency planning and protocols in place that were supervised by district water commissioners and superintendents. Crews worked around the clock to ensure that the distribution systems were fully operational, backup diesel powered pumps and generators were tested, and additional fuel supply stocked. During and after the storm, wells were carefully monitored to ensure the delivery of clean and sustainable water throughout each district.

NSWCA represents locally run water districts where the water resource is managed and run by commissioners who live within the district.   

“As members of the community, our response and main priorities are to address the needs of our community firsthand,” stated Gary Brosnan, South Farmingdale water commissioner.

McEvoy said that water remains one of Long Island’s least expensive utilities with commissioner-run districts working to protect and conserve this resource at an affordable cost. McEvoy also said that while consolidation continues to threaten the autonomy of locally run resources, the excellent preparedness and response demonstrated by Long Island’s 21 commissioner-run water districts during and after the storm is a testament to the ultimate success that comes from community-based leadership.