The Plainview Water District will be holding a public meeting to review and inform the community on the remedial actions that will be undertaken to provide treatment for the impacted water supply well located at Plant no. 7 on Washington Avenue. The meeting will be held at the Howard B. Mattlin Middle School Auditorium, 100 Washington Avenue, on Wednesday February 4, at 7:30 p.m.

The Plainview Water District Board of Commissioners has been proactive in protecting the quality of the community's drinking water and public health. To this end, the Plainview Water District closely monitors the quality of the water supply. Recently, water quality conditions related to volatile organic compounds deteriorated at the local supply well 7-1 located on Washington Avenue. Accordingly, the water district undertook immediate action by removing the supply well from service. In addition the water district promptly notified the Nassau County Department of Health of the water quality concern. After reviewing procedures undertaken by the water district, the Nassau County Department of Health determined that the community's residents were not at any risk.

In general, due to the unique groundwater supply on Long Island, the water district is dealing with water quality issues that emanate from the past discharge of organic compounds into the aquifer system. These past discharges, in certain cases, can be traced directly to landfills, active and inactive hazardous waste disposal sites and hazardous substance disposal sites. Since the 1970s volatile organic compounds (VOCs) have been a major water quality concern. Primary sources of VOCs found in groundwater are solvents, degreasers, gasoline and petroleum products that have been improperly disposed of or accidentally spilled. Generally, VOCs can be traced to past point sources of improper and illegal industrial discharge. One of the potential significant sources of VOC contamination that the water district is concerned with involves former and current businesses occupying the Plainview Industrial Park. Several industrial spills have been documented at the aforementioned site. Since 1998, when the Plainview Water District became aware of the industrial spills, it has strongly lobbied the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (NYSDEC) to investigate and remediate the contamination. In addition, the water district has also taken legal action against the documented polluters in order to protect the financial interests of its ratepayers.

At this time, the water district will keep Well 7-1 out of service until a wellhead treatment system is constructed. In the meantime, water will be transferred from other portions of the district to affected residents' area.

The water district is committed to protecting our most precious natural resource and keeping the community informed. The water district will continue to carefully monitor its wells and work closely with state and county agencies to address groundwater contamination concerns. If anyone has any questions, please contact Plainview Water District Superintendent Paul Granger at 931-6469.