Sewage is their specialty

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Rob Weltner, president of Operation SPLASH, a non-profit organization that keeps watch on the quality of life along the shores of Long Island, said that given the direct connection between the performance of the sewage treatment plants and the water quality of the bays and beaches, proper water treatment is crucial. “We believe United Water will help us to achieve this goal by bringing worldwide experience and new technologies to our wastewater plants so that the residents and the sea life get what they deserve — and that is the absolute best,” Weltner said.

Saving tax dollars

The PFM Group, a Wall Street-based financial consulting firm hired by Nassau County to review the proposed agreement, found that it should save the county $233.1 million. Figuring in reduced overtime, the resumption of contracted services by the county and additional revenue resulting from personnel reassignments, the savings climb to $378.9 million, according to PFM.

Under the agreement, United Water will provide the county with written monthly reports on the operation and maintenance of its sewage systems. The company will meet regularly with the county to review operations and performance, and county officials will conduct inspections every year. Every five years there will be a full-scale inspection and review of the performance and the condition of the three plants.

“From nitrogen removal to protecting our marshlands, from establishing a new public park near one of the facilities to improving our ability to recover from future storms, we have the means of making these plants more environmentally friendly, more efficient and better stewards of our environment,” Mangano said. “Some of the benefits will be obvious to everyone, other improvements will be noticeable only to neighbors, and still other improvements will be hidden behind technology and environmental metrics. Nevertheless, all residents and future generations will benefit regardless of where we live in Nassau County.”
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