Reply to the Editor
Blackout 2003

November 12, 2003

Letter to the Editor
Manhasset Press
132 East Second Street
Minneola, NY 11501

Re: Cross-Connection Program

Dear Editor:

The Manhasset-Lakeville Water District has received a copy of Harold Michels’ letter regarding our cross-connection control program and would like to set the record straight. 

THE FACTS

On March 14, 2003 the notice of a public hearing on this issue was published in the four local newspapers including the Manhasset Press. On March 24, 2003 the public hearing was held and a decision reserved by the Board of Commissioners. The Commissioners waited on their decision to allow the announcement of this Rule change in our Annual Statement, mailed to all customers in May of 2003. The new Rules were officially adopted on July 16, 2003. 

THE HEALTH ORDINANCE

The Health Department requires the District to discontinue water service for customers not in compliance. The District would have been remiss not to mention the ordinance in our notice to consumers. The District’s ultimate enforcement for compliance with our Rules and Regulations is the termination of service. This practice is consistent with town law, which allows water districts to cut off the water supply of violators of our rules and regulations Please note that the termination of service is not taken lightly by the District and would only occur after due process and as a last resort. Customers who call or write for extensions will find the District very receptive.

WHY THE CHANGE?

The decision to shift the burden to the homeowner was not taken lightly. Here are several key issues that prompted the final decision. Backflow devices are part of a homeowner’s plumbing system. In order to test the device the surrounding plumbing has to be in working order. This was forcing District personnel to become more and more involved with interior plumbing. Since District employees are not licensed plumbers, the Board cannot accept the liability associated with interior plumbing work. In addition, municipal law prohibits a public benefit corporation from working on private property. As these plumbing systems grow older, more and more work will be required to keep them operational. 

Currently 23% of our residential services maintain backflow devices. While all residential services installed after 1975 were required to install a backflow prevention devices, the majority were installed as part of underground irrigation systems. It is unfair for the majority of our customers to bear the cost for testing devices which they don’t even own.

Finally, the District is not meeting the annual requirements set forth by the Health Department for testing devices. The District has tried unsuccessfully to use additional personnel and overtime to meet these requirements. Almost all other Districts in the County require the homeowner to complete the test. With appropriate enforcement, this change will allow us to satisfy the County requirements.

Very truly yours,
MLWD

Paul J. Schrader, P.E.
Superintendent 
The Manhasset-Lakeville Water District is committed to providing the highest level of service possible. The District has been able to continually upgrade its facilities and operations to handle the ever-increasing challenges of today’s world due to insightful planning of our Commissioners, Engineers, and professionals. Never was this more evident than during the largest blackout in our country’s history.

Unlike the electrical grid serving the Northeast coast, the distribution systems serving Long Island are independently owned and operated by local special Districts. The failure of one system does not affect the others. In fact, neighboring Districts are equipped with interconnections to help supply each other in the event of a catastrophic failure in one of the systems. However, these interconnections are rarely used due to the redundancy built into each individual District’s supply and distribution system. 

Our District currently maintains eighteen production facilities located at thirteen individual sites throughout our service area. Seven of these sites can run on an alternate fuel supplies. While each site is connected through our distribution mains, each plant maintains individual power supplies and controls. Even an extraordinary event like the blackout, which knocked out electric power to all sites simultaneously, could not prevent us from providing an adequate supply. Here’s a closer look at how the District responded.

Many of you have probably wondered why Long Island has so many elevated water storage tanks. Elevated tanks play a key role in the redundancy of supply for all water systems. During emergency situations such as fires or electrical failures, the tanks become available for emergency water supply. When the power suddenly went out on August 14, 2003, all of our pumps were knocked off line. In addition to the pumps, the control systems that we use to operate and monitor all of our facilities were also temporarily incapacitated. (So much for modern technology.) However, our elevated tanks were able to provide a continuous supply of water via gravity. This provided the system operators with enough time to enact our emergency plan, which includes the use of backup generators and alternate fuel supplies. The final result was an uninterrupted potable water supply.

While the District is proud of its performance during this emergency, the unexpected complete loss of power pointed out some weaknesses in our system. The Board of Commissioners recently approved contracts for additional generators to strengthen our emergency capabilities. Our control systems are also being modified to perform during massive sustained power outages. The District is able to plan and act decisively due to the independent nature of the organization and the commitment of the officials in charge. 

Rest assured that all of Long Island’s Water District’s will use the great blackout to gage their ability to respond. Be equally assured that we will be better prepared next time because of the dedicated professionals who keep a close watch over the water supplies on the Island.