New York American Water Hosts Boy Scout Troop 163 at Water Treatment Plant

New York American Water recently hosted a tour of one of its water treatment plants with its neighbors from Boy Scout Troop 163 and the Baldwin Boys Association. Members of the troop, who were visiting the Scout House next door to the one-acre water treatment plant, are pursuing the World Conservation Award and their Soil and Water Conservation merit badges. After being contacted by the Troop, New York American Water coordinated an insightful, first-hand learning experience to help the boys fulfill needed requirements of their badges.

“We look forward to opportunities to educate younger generations about the value of water, what it takes to deliver it to our homes and why its conservation is so important,” said New York American Water engineer and production manager, Richard Kern. “Not only did we help fulfill requirements for badges that will advance this group in scouting, we provided them with an understanding of our water system and a message they can share with their peers.”

During the tour, Mr. Kern spoke with more than 20 boy scouts, scout leaders and parents who were eager to learn more about the water production facility and how it treats up to 3.65 million gallons of water each day for 10,250 customers in the Town of Hempstead. Mr. Kern explained the intricacies of Long Island’s water systems and the different components that go into keeping our water supply safe and reliable. The scouts took advantage of Mr. Kern’s 28 years of experience in the water industry and peppered him with many important questions about their water supply.

“Mr. Kern was able to easily articulate how water requires the utmost care and attention, which grabbed the troop’s attention instantly,” said Scoutmaster Charles T. Hart. “We are appreciative of the time New York American Water dedicated to meeting with the scouts and providing us with a tour of the facility. This opportunity was not only a great learning experience for all of us, but it clearly showed their level of expertise and how deeply they care about our water systems.”

Celebrating their 85th year, the 50-plus boys of Troop 163 make up one of the largest and oldest troops in the Theodore Roosevelt Council that covers all of Nassau County. The scouts have been working hard on earning their Soil and Water Conservation merit badge, which emphasizes the importance of properly treating our water and soil as they are essential to keeping the community clean and healthy. As a part of the badge’s requirements, the scouts are required to write an essay about their experiences.

New York American Water, a subsidiary of American Water, is the largest investor-owned water company in New York, providing high-quality and reliable water services to approximately 350,000 people. Founded in 1886, American Water is the largest and most geographically diverse publicly traded U.S. water and wastewater utility company. With headquarters in Voorhees, N.J., the company employs 6,400 dedicated professionals who provide regulated and market-based drinking water, wastewater and other related services to an estimated 15 million people in 47 states and Ontario, Canada. More information can be found at www.amwater.com.