Oyster Bay WD Commissioner Michael F. Rich III Among LI Water Commissioners to Review Flint Michigan Water Contamination

Oyster Bay, NY; April 1, 2016 – At a recent meeting held by Nassau Suffolk Water Commissioners’ Association (NSWCA), of which Oyster Bay Water District Commissioner Michael F. Rich III currently serves as Secretary, guest speaker Paul J. Ponturo, P.E., Senior Water Resources Engineer with H2M Architects & Engineers in Melville, NY, discussed with Long Island water commissioners scientific information and data regarding the water contamination crisis in Flint Michigan.

“When Flint changed its water source from treated Detroit Water and Sewerage Department water obtained from Lake Huron and the Detroit River to the Flint River, officials failed to apply corrosion control treatment to the new water source,” Mr. Ponturo explained. “This resulted with lead contamination that created a serious public health danger. The corrosive Flint River water caused lead from aging pipes to leach into the water supply, producing extremely elevated levels of lead.”

Mr. Ponturo added that while many Long Island water providers utilize “infrastructures that are almost 100 years old New York State has strict water management compliance regulations in place for preventing such crises. Each Long Island water district follows these regulations and continually maintains their respective infrastructure to avoid potential water contamination, including lead leaching intrusion.”

“Local Long Island water districts get their water from a sole source subterranean aquifer as opposed to lake or river water,” commented NSWCA President Ray Averna of Massapequa Water District. “While our raw water contains virtually no lead even before treatment, the public can see complete information on what is in the water of our 21 commissioner-run NSWCA member districts within each respective district’s annual Drinking Water Quality Report.”

Organized and chartered in 1981, Nassau Suffolk Water Commissioners’ Association (NSWCA) is comprised of water commissioners from 21 Nassau and Suffolk County water districts. The NSWCA is dedicated to promoting environmental excellence and best practices as well as maintaining the highest standards of water quality and supply. NSWCA sponsors regular educational meetings on topics that include the environment, security, economics, rules and regulations, among other related issues.

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PHOTO CAPTION: Pictured from left to right during a recent Nassau Suffolk Water Commissioners’ Association (NSWCA) meeting are addressing the Flint Michigan water contamination crisis are NSWCA Treasurer and Hicksville Water District Commissioner William Schuckmann, NSWCA Secretary and Oyster Bay Water District Commissioner Michael F. Rich III, Guest Presenter Mr. Paul Ponturo of Melville-based H2M Architects & Engineers, NSWCA President and Massapequa Water District Commissioner Raymond J. Averna, and NSWCA 1st Vice President and Plainview Water District Commissioner Andrew N. Bader.