Malvernite to head Long Island Water Conference

Almost anybody related to the water industry on Long Island gets together in a professional organization that supplies more than 375 million gallons of clean water daily — one that will now be headed by a Malvernite.

The Long Island Water Conference elected Frank Koch, superintendent of the Village of Garden City’s water and sewer services, as its chairman last month. He had previously served as first vice chairman and has long been an active member of the group.

“It is a great honor,” Koch, 45, told the Herald. “I’ve been going for this for about 15 years and when I first started as an engineer, I never thought I’d be chairman of it. I look up to most of these people that are here and I consider it a great honor.”

Most of the water utilities on Long Island (and some of their commissioners) are members of the LIWC, as are contractors, engineers and consultants. According to Koch, who lives with his wife, Kelly, in Malverne, the greatest benefit of being part of the organization — which was formed in 1951 — is simple: it is an opportunity to work with, educate and learn from others in the industry, particularly through monthly networking. Koch said the LIWC members are continuously educating themselves about the newest technologies and what’s ahead in the environmental field, which includes the latest updates about contaminants and regulations.

Being from Malverne and in the water industry, Koch was aware of the issues surrounding Long Island American Water, which is not currently affiliated with the conference (although it has been for many years in the past). The private company, which services Malverne, West Hempstead, North Lynbrook and parts of the Five Towns, recently asked the state Public Service Commission to approve a 7.5 percent rate hike — a proposal that angered residents who complained about LIAW’s transparency in handling the brown water issue that arose last year.