GLENWOOD WATER DISTRICT RESIDENTS LIKELY TO FACE WATER USAGE RESTRICTIONS THIS SUMMERMarch 17, 2014 -- Approximately 1,000 residents living within Glenwood Landing and Roslyn Harbor will be facing water usage restrictions this upcoming summer, a Glenwood Water District official said in a recent telephone interview with Northwordnews.
Peter Hesse, Chairman of the District’s Board of Commissioners explained that the conservation efforts will be necessary to deal with limits on supply during the peak summer months, as the Roslyn Water District, the sole water provider to Glenwood, copes with having two of its eight wells out of service. One was shut down in January 2013, after the chemical Freon 22 was detected in water samples, and another was taken off line this past November. In December, Roslyn Water notified the Glenwood District that, effective June 1, 2014, it could no longer continue its water supply. Mr. Hesse explained that contractually Roslyn has the right to take such action under severe emergency circumstances so long as six months notice is given. After receiving the notification, he said that Glenwood looked into establishing an interconnection with the Jericho Water District, but that that solution was unfeasible because of the inability to meet minimum water pressure requirements. Glenwood does have an emergency interconnection with New York American Water of Sea Cliff, Mr. Hesse continued, but that connection is for brief supply interruptions resulting from mishaps such as water main breaks. For American Water, a private company, to supply Glenwood over a period of months, would require approval from the New York State Public Service Commission. Despite the turn-off notification received in December, Mr. Hesse said that based on recent discussions with Roslyn Water, there is “definite agreement” that Roslyn will continue to supply Glenwood through the peak summer months, although with limitations. What remains up in the air, is “how much” and “what sort of restrictions will be in place.” In the meantime, he said that Glenwood would continue to pursue what is necessary to establish an interconnection with New York American Water in Sea Cliff on a non-emergency basis. In getting through the summer, Mr. Hesse emphasized the importance of homeowners complying with the restrictions and expressed optimism that the community would understand and cooperate. “If you talk to people,” he said, “and explain what we are facing, and how you can help us, we will get through this with flying colors.” He continued that when there is a clearer picture of what course of action will be taken, the Water District would be sending out letters to homeowners and holding a public meeting. The two Roslyn Water District wells that have been shut down, are not expected to be in service until the summer of 2015, when work to install an air stripper is completed. In late February, the Town of North Hempstead approved a $20.9 bond issue, a portion of which will finance the project. The Glenwood Water District serves the areas of Glenwood Landing that lie within the Town of North Hempstead, and residents of Roslyn Harbor who live north of Bryant Avenue. BACK TO HOME PAGE |