The West Hempstead Water District is celebrating its 100th anniversary this year, marking a century of providing reliable, high-quality drinking water while continuing to invest in infrastructure and technology for future generations.
Established in 1926 after approval by the Town of Hempstead Board, the District was created through the efforts of local residents who recognized the benefits of a centralized public water system.
“The story of the West Hempstead Water District is one of vision, perseverance and an unwavering commitment to public service that has been in place for an entire century,” Board of Commissioners Chairman Kenneth P. Wenthen Jr. said.
At the time, West Hempstead was largely farmland, and families relied on hand pumps or privately drilled wells for water. The creation of the District laid the foundation for the community’s growth, lowering fire insurance rates, encouraging development and helping transform West Hempstead into a thriving suburban community.
“I am honored to follow in the footsteps of the commissioners, superintendents and dedicated plant operators and office staffers that came before me,” he said.
What began with a handful of wells, a modest storage tank and 19 miles of water mains has grown into a modern system serving more than 32,000 residents in West Hempstead, Garden City South and the eastern section of Franklin Square. Today, the District maintains about 75 miles of water mains, 579 fire hydrants, multiple storage facilities and advanced water treatment systems.
For Wenthen, a West Hempstead resident for more than 65 years, the centennial is an opportunity to recognize the commissioners, superintendents, plant operators and office staff who helped build the District.
“The story of the West Hempstead Water District is one of vision, perseverance and an unwavering commitment to public service,” said Wenthen. “As we celebrate this milestone, we honor the residents and leaders who had the foresight to establish the District one hundred years ago. Their dedication created a foundation that continues to provide a reliable, high-quality water source for our community every day.”
Today, the District uses an Advanced Oxidation Process treatment facility to remove contaminants that cannot be eliminated through conventional methods while meeting standards established by the New York State and Nassau County health departments.
The District is investing in projects designed to strengthen service for decades to come. Its Power Resiliency Project includes new generators and electrical redundancies to maintain operations during hurricanes and other emergencies. Well No. 6 is undergoing rehabilitation and, once complete, will again be capable of pumping up to one million gallons of water per day. The District has also added a new one-million-gallon storage tank to meet future demand.
“Our responsibility is not only to maintain the system we’ve created, but to strengthen it for future generations. Whether it’s investing in electrical resiliency, rehabilitating our wells, modernizing our infrastructure or preparing for new treatment and cybersecurity requirements, every improvement we make today helps ensure our residents continue to receive dependable service for decades to come,” said District Superintendent Jason Belle.
To commemorate its centennial, the District has introduced a 100th anniversary logo, published a commemorative newsletter and expanded the history section of its website with photographs, milestones and stories documenting its evolution.
“The District impacts the community every day,” Wenthen said. “Whenever you turn on your tap, your shower, your sprinkler system or flush your toilet, you activate your partnership with us and we are honored to serve over 32,000 residents every day.”
