Water authority slowly establishes itself

Slowly but surely, the Southeastern Nassau County Water Authority is taking steps to investigate the feasibility of creating a public water district for the Bellmore-Merrick area and beyond. The recently reinstated board convened for the second time at a public meeting on Wednesday.

Authority members said they had received $10,000 in seed money from the Town of Hempstead and were expecting $5,000 in additional monies from the Town of Oyster Bay. The board is now seeking additional funding sources. The board warned that securing state grants would likely be difficult in the current economy. Seed money will cover the authority’s operating expenses; board members serve without pay.

Nassau County Legislator Dave Denenberg, a Democrat from Merrick, suggested that the board look into securing a community development block grant from the county. A block grant is federal money allotted to improve communities, which comes through the county.

John Reinhardt, the board secretary, said that he had obtained documents from a board member who represented the authority from 1991 to 1997. The current board, Reinhardt said, had just received the paperwork and planned to examine it to determine why the previous board, which disbanded in April 1997, had not found a public takeover beneficial. “We have all of this information that we’re now going to have to review,” said Chairman Richard Ronan, of Merrick.

Denenberg also suggested that the board reach out to members of the Western Nassau Water Authority, who successfully took over Jamaica Water and began providing water in 1996. Reinhardt welcomed the idea but noted that Jamaica Water was a bankrupt company and, as such, was “a very willing partner in the whole thing.” Aqua New York, on the other, is a division of a national, multi-million-dollar corporation, Aqua America, which is solvent.

Community members had the chance to address the board, and residents voiced concerns about water quality. Tony Calabero of North Merrick presented a bottle of rust-colored water, as well as two water filters that he had installed in his home. Both were discolored by rust. “Water quality is non-existent,” he said.