What is the Town of Hempstead doing to replace the Uniondale water tower after 70 years?

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Uniondale is getting a new water.

That is the news Hempstead Town Supervisor Don Clavin unveiled on Tuesday.

After 70 years of use, Uniondale’s current water tower will be replaced with a new structure. The original tower, built in 1955, required frequent and expensive maintenance due to its age.

Clavin explained that the town’s previous plan — repairing the current tower for $9 million — would cost a near equal amount to building a new structure for only $1 million more.

“Maintaining our drinking water infrastructure is a crucial part of protecting our Town’s public health,” he said in a news release. “As this water tower grows older, it requires more work and money to make sure it can continue serving its community, and it’s time for a change.”

The new tower, made of concrete and composite steel, will be built using weather-resistant construction techniques to make it easier to maintain. It will be able to serve Uniondale for generations to come, Claivn said.

The town plans to begin construction this summer and will be fully operational in 2027. The tower’s reconstruction is a part of the town’s $225 million investment into its water systems, in addition to $85 million in federal and state grants.

Other water quality improvement projects include the addition of multiple of an advanced oxidation process and granular activated carbon treatment systems to its waterways, designed to treat contaminants coming out of ground water. The town is also pursuing litigation against polluters who created a need for pollution treatment plants.

“We take pride in our Town’s efforts to be proactive in maintaining our ability to provide residents with efficient and effective water service,” Clavin said. “These projects all focus around ensuring that our drinking water remains of the highest quality and at the lowest cost possible to ratepayers.”

An expanded story will be in next week's Uniondale Herald Beacon.