Municipalities working together to keep Hicksville’s water infrastructure clean
The Hicksville Water District (HWD) and the Town of Oyster Bay recently entered into an intermunicipal agreement for the town to provide two annual street sweeping services at each of the district’s water supply and treatment facilities. In exchange, the district will provide annual testing for 12 town-owned backflow devices within the district’s service area.
“The Hicksville Water District and the Town of Oyster Bay have an extensive history of working together for the betterment of our residents and this intermunicipal agreement is no different,” HWD Chairman Karl Schweitzer said. “From the perspective of the district, this is a smart, reciprocal agreement that will greatly improve our ability to better maintain the grounds of our water production and treatment facilities while also ensuring a dozen of the town’s backflow prevention devices are operating correctly for the continued health and safety of our residents.”
Maintaining the cleanliness and appearance of the district’s facilities goes a long way in supporting their mission to provide residents with high-quality water service. Having the grounds around the facilities routinely cleaned ensures that they are not only more aesthetically pleasing for the surrounding residents, but also that the removal of trash, plants and other potentially disruptive materials that make its way onto these sites is removed. The backflow tests that the District will be providing in return plays a crucial role in protecting the community’s drinking water from potentially harmful substances like lawn fertilizers.
“The Town of Oyster Bay is proud to partner with the Hicksville Water District on this shared services initiative that will increase overall efficiency, eliminate duplication, streamline operations and result in real cost savings for our residents,” Town of Oyster Bay Supervisor Joseph Saladino said.
“I am proud that the town will be partnering with the Hicksville Water District under this intermunicipal agreement that will provide annual backflow testing of 12 Town-owned backflow devices within the District’s service area,” Town of Oyster Bay Councilman Tom Hand said. “Maintaining our backflow devices is hugely important as any potential problem could affect the cleanliness of our water, and negatively impact the overall health and safety of our community. My thanks again to our friends at the Hicksville Water District for partnering on this shared services initiative that will keep our community safe.”
—Submitted by the Hicksville Water District
