RSS 2.0 FeedFebruary 17, 2011, Wantagh Seaford Citizen
Water Authority fields complaints
Residents express their disappointment with the current water suppliers.
Price, quality and service – residents continue to voice their dissatisfaction with Aqua, the private water company, that services Wantagh, Seaford, Bellmore and Merrick as well as some parts of Massapequa.
At the second meeting of the Water Authority of Southeastern Nassau County (WASENC) held at the Merrick Golf Clubhouse on Wednesday, February 9, board members fielded questions from residents on a variety of topics including Aqua’s pricing practices, the presence of iron deposits in the water and low water pressure in the lines.
Other residents wanted an update on the authority’s exploration of a potential public takeover of Aqua by WASENC.
Water quality is questioned
Tony Collabro of North Merrick placed several jars of brownish water on the table in front of the board members. “This is what comes out of my tap,” he told water authority members and residents. “I change my sediment filter every two weeks because of the iron deposits here,” he said pointing to the water samples.
“I’m very mechanical and I’ve changed all my pipes and flushed everything. This started 19 years ago and everything has been checked. They told me to change grounds but it never cleared the problem. I went back to them recently and they told me I didn’t follow up.” Mr. Collabro added that “the water smells of chlorine, like it’s pool water.”
Bill Pezzullo, who lives on Bushwick Avenue in North Merrick, is also having problems. “It’s not just price, it’s quality.”
Board member John Molloy of Wantagh told residents “there is a whole complex chemical reaction in the water process,” he said. “They have to work within standards.” He said that sometimes during peak demand, wells not normally used are put on line.
Board member John Reinhardt of Merrick added that the presence of iron in the water is “aesthetic until a certain level, then a health issue.”
“Who is responsible for testing the water for safety?” asked Claudia Borecky of North Merrick.
“Nassau County is the instrument for the state, based on state and federal regulations,” explained Mr. Molloy, who added that any concerned residents can call the Nassau County Department of Health to have their water tested.
“Wells and the distribution system are tested,” said Mr. Molloy. “Aqua has requirements and the county has a monitoring program to make sure data is supportable.”
Water quality reports are issued once a year and should be coming in the mail sometime this month or next, said board director Richard Ronan of North Merrick. He also suggested, as did the other board members, that people write letters to the state Public Service Commission.
“The rate increase was to address these problems,” said Mr. Ronan. “Write to them and let them know if you feel this hasn’t been addressed.”
Mr. Reinhardt explained that “the PSC is logging complaints so as to adjust and re-evaluate rate increases.”
Other residents complained about water pressure. “This area is notorious for low pressure and for iron deposits,” sid Mr. Reinhardt, who said the state health requirement is a minimum of 20 pounds of pressure per square inch.
