The Water Authority of Western Nassau County opened its new 16,000 square-foot headquarters on Monday, Dec. 2 on Union Turnpike in New Hyde Park. They previously operated on South Tyson Avenue in Floral Park since 1996.
“As people walk by, even during construction, [the building] was so well-received,” Water Authority Superintendent Michael Tierney said. “It’s a modern-type building and designed to look like a water storage tank.”
While Western Nassau’s new facility is ready, Tierney stated there is still work to be done before moving in. The majority of the project was funded by a 2010 bond issuance by the water authority. It helped build the central garage and main
headquarters at the site.
“There’s still some punch list items that some of the contractors have to do hear at this building but [the water authority] is also closing out on two other major projects, two iron removal plants in Elmont and Franklin Square,” Tierney said.
“[The removal plants] performing very well.”
The $8.5 million facility will serve as a cost-saving measure, according to the water authority. Tierney estimates that save the water authority $400,000 in costs due to the move to New Hyde Park. Between rental costs and property taxes.
Western Nassau paid approximately $23,000 per month in rent in Floral Park and almost $82,000 per year in school and real estate taxes.
“We have huge savings now,” he said.
Tierney said two major projects on Western Nassau’s table include an installation of a Volatile Organic Compound (VOC) facility in Elmont that will cover four water district wells. This facility would remediate issues pertaining to organic chemicals.
“This will be installed in our southwestern section of the district,” he said.
The water authority will also tackle redoing a water tank near the New Hyde Park Long Island Rail Road Station. Western Nassau reps recently conducted an inspection at the site, according to Tierney.
“It’s going to have be rehabilitated and I expect that to be starting up sometime in the early spring,” he said.
Tierney said the water authority will propose a bond to facilitate station changes, which are “rather old,” said Tierney, who noted that other upgrades will occur at other sites.
