by Anthony Rifilato
The $3.5 million facility will be located at the company's Grove Street pumping station, and is expected to remove about 99 percent of the iron from groundwater as it flows through a sand and anthracite pressure filter that traps the iron.
"It's proven technology to remove iron from well water," said Dennis Ciemniecki, vice president of operations at Long Island Water.
Groundwater in southwestern Nassau County has a high level of iron and other minerals that are naturally present in the soil, Ciemniecki said. Although they are not health hazards, they do create aesthetic problems such as discolored water, stained plumbing fixtures and stained laundry. Since 1990, Ciemniecki said, iron has gradually become more prevalent, and the project has been in the works since 2001. Residents in the area say they welcome it.
"It's been going on for many years," said resident Doris Lister. "It's an excellent idea."
At a groundbreaking ceremony last week at the Grove Street pumping station, Assemblyman Bob Barra (R-Lynbrook) and Long Island Water officials said that this latest water-improvement project is one of many in Nassau County, with recent groundbreakings in Hewlett and Valley Stream. Another ceremony is scheduled to take place in Lynbrook this week. "It's going to be terrific," said Barra. "Residents want crisp, clear water."
Construction of the Baldwin facility is scheduled to begin later this year and is expected to be completed next summer. The 75-foot-long, 45-foot-wide building will be designed to fit in with the community, Ciemniecki said, and will feature a brick facade, glazed tiles and new landscaping.
"I think they're trying to make it look nice," said Lister.
Long Island Water, the county's largest water supplier, serves more than 10,000 Baldwin customers and has a total of five wells in Baldwin, with an average depth of 500 feet.
When the water-improvement project is completed, Ciemniecki said, approximately 4 million gallons of filtered water will be available to Baldwin customers each day and is expected to benefit parts of Oceanside and Island Park as well.
"We hope to have cleaner water," said Grove Street resident Ken Graham. He said that while iron never posed health risks, it did have some benefits. "It always made for better iced tea," he said.
