Hearing on Baldwin iron removal plant postponed

New York American Water has postponed its hearing in front of the Town of Hempstead’s Board of Appeals for a proposed iron filtration facility in Baldwin. A new date for the hearing, which was to be held Nov. 28, has not been set.

Officials did not give a reason for the postponement.

New York American Water already has a water production and treatment facility at 915 Seaman Ave., where it seeks to build the iron removal plant. Construction on the proposed filtration facility would take 18 months, according to NYAW officials. Iron in water is not a health concern, according to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, but it can cause water to become discolored.

The construction would not cause any rate increases, as it was included in the rate plan approved by the state in 2017.

No residents expressed outright opposition to the plant, though some had questions on how it would affect the community. The Baldwin Civic Association was not aware of the plan until contacted by the Herald. A community meeting on the plan was scheduled for Nov. 15, but with the postponement of the zoning hearing that meeting has also been pushed back.