Anti-American Water groups find strength in numbers

In an effort to bridge communities affected by the high water rates imposed by New York American Water, Bill Mozer, of Glen Head, invited Merrick’s Dave Denenberg, a former county legislator, and Claudia Borecky to speak at the Stop Taxing Our Water’s meeting on Tuesday.

Denenberg and Borecky, co-directors of Long Island Clean Air Water and Soil, were able to inform residents about the organization’s efforts to oppose the increasing tax rates of water in the Merrick district.

LI CAWS, along with the North and Central Merrick Civic Association, joined several ratepayers on Sept. 15 to bring an Article 78 against the Public Service Commission and NYAW. The lawsuit challenges PSC’s decision to allow the company to raise its customers’ rates for four years to begin in 2017. Denenberg said this decision disguises NYAW’s property tax as residential water rates.

“By filing this appeal, we are objecting to PSC’s proposal, and fighting for all three districts [under NYAW] to guarantee fair and equitable rates,” he said.

NYAW covers 150,000 homeowners in three districts — Sea Cliff, Merrick, and Lynbrook. Denenberg said the average monthly water bill is $250 for NYAW customers, which is triple what other districts pay annually in water taxes.

Mozer, who helped form Stop Taxing Our Water, said the goal of the organization is to coordinate and disseminate accurate information regarding taxing from American Water to the public.

The most recent handout, which was provided at the Oct. 17 meeting, included a list of qualifications drawn up by NYAW that give special protection to customers who fit certain criteria.

“There’s a lack of consistent information, and the civic [associations] need to work together to address this issue,” Mozer said.

Realizing that action speaks louder than words, Mozer teamed up with George Pombar, president of the Glen Head-Glenwood Landing Civic Association, to organize a rally protesting the inequitable water rates. The rally will be held at the Glen Head water tower at Dumond Place and Glen Head Rd. on Saturday, Nov. 4, at 10 a.m.

“It is time to strike because the coals are hot,” said Agatha Nadele, of Glen Head, a community activist.

While addressing residents, she held up two water filtration systems — one that was new and one that came out of her own home, which was a dark brown.

Nadele attributed the discoloration to the poor quality water running through NYAW’s aging pipes. “They’re paying more in dividends to their shareholders than to [improving] infrastructure,” she said. “We need to fight back against this water-mongering monster.”

Some residents said that elected leaders should also take a stance against the private cooperation, if they plan to stay in office.

“If our local politicians don’t do something about this, they’re not going to get re-elected,” said Carl Paffendorf, of Glen Head.

“Corporations like [NYAW] don’t want you to know that the powers with the people,” said Steve Warshaw, a member of the Glen Head-Glenwood Business Association. “The legislatures and politicians need to be with us, or they’re not going to be [in office] next year.”

Signs and flyers have already popped up in Sea Cliff sporting a Stop Taxing Our Water logo, to build momentum for the rally. Mozer said that the rally itself is just the tip of the iceberg. “This is a really explosive issue, so getting quality information into the community is needed.”

Nadele believes the districts under NYAW should’ve received public, municipal water years ago. If action isn’t taken against PSC’s proposal, she fears the rates will only get worse.

“Between the high rates, the well collapse over the summer, and the interconnected pipes issue, we really have the perfect storm to do something about this,” Nadele said.

“We need to be relentless in our pursuits in order to take back our water,” she added. “If we don’t combine forces and stay unified against the water company, then we’re not going to get anywhere.”

For more information or to get involved, visit stoptaxingourwater.org, or join the Glen Head-Glenwood-Sea Cliff-Brookville-Roslyn Harbor-Greenvale Neighbors page on Facebook.