Rising water bills have pushed Sea Cliff residents to fight for public water for nearly a decade. Many different civic associations and members of the community came together throughout the years to address the high-water price issue.
Agatha Nadel, a longtime advocate and Sea Cliff resident, said that high water prices have always been a problem in Sea Cliff, but this is out of control.
“This summer will be 10 years since the very aggressive fight began,” Nadel said. “It all started with a town hall meeting at the middle school with George Pombar and the civic associations to talk about the exorbitant bills. I can tell you since I grew up here, the bills have always been a problem and more expensive than our neighbors, but it never got out of control to the point it is now.”
Nadel said that the Water Authority of North Shore was formed to help expedite the fight.
“Both the North Shore Civics and concerned citizens have gone through numerous layers to fight and researching to find the most realistic solution,” Nadel said. “Finally, we all agreed that the municipalization for area was going to be the best long-term solution, and that’s how the Water Authority was formed to explore this in more detail and get us over the finish line.”
Nadel, the former co-president of the North Shore Concerned Citizens group, said there are other reasons why residents are fighting for affordable public water including surcharges and profit factor.
“It almost 10 years ago when I got a bill for $700 a month of water. That wasn’t all water,” Nadel said. “A chunk of that was surcharges and taxes added to the bill and the 9.75% baseline profit which is a real issue as well. “I saw bills compared to my neighbors two doors down, who get public water from Jericho, and I would bet my life that the water I get is from that same pipeline, so it all comes down to getting rid of this private water provider.”
The Water Authority has been in negotiations with Liberty Utilities, a private company that has been the water provider in Sea Cliff since 2022, to address municipalizing the water in Sea Cliff.
“The Water Authority of North Shore is actively pursuing the acquisition of our local water district,” the Water Authority wrote in a statement. “The board has worked with outside professionals, retained by the authority, to commence negotiations with Liberty Utilities concerning the potential municipalization of our water district.”
Liberty Utilities bought the rights from New York American Water two years ago. James Versocki, a board member with the Water Authority and Sea Cliff Village Trustee, provided an update on the progress at the Village of Sea Cliff board meeting on Dec. 9.
“The Water Authority had a meeting last month and we would like to let both the board, and the public know that we have submitted and initial offer to acquire its local services,” Versocki said. “We will look to continue negotiations into 2025, and I anticipate that I will have an update by next meeting.”
The Water Authority and concerned citizens will continue to fight for residents to access affordable public water as the negotiations with Liberty Utilities begin to ramp up. Nadel said she believes there is no reason Sea Cliff residents should be paying more than neighboring towns and she expects Liberty Utilities to do everything they can to delay negotiations.
“I totally expect that Liberty will use every tool in their toolbox to delay the buyout and this is any private order companies’ goal, to tire out the community and use negative marketing and advertisements against a buyout,” Nadel said. “Our bills must be on par with those who are receiving affordable public water, the pipes are all interconnected.”
