Water usage up 9% in Old Westbury

Harrison Marder

The Village of Old Westbury has seen a 9 percent increase in water usage this year, Mayor Fred Carillo said Tuesday.

To try and keep up with the rising demand for water, Carillo said, he anticipates the construction of two new wells and one new storage tank in the village at a cost of approximately $15 million.

Carillo said the one of the wells will be placed at Spring Hill Farms and the other at Rolu, a 110-acre property located at the corner of Post Road and the Long Island Expressway.  The storage tank is expected to be placed on the campus of SUNY Old Westbury.

The village has its own water system, Carillo said, that is comprised of six wells and two storage tanks. 

Carillo said the two new wells and new storage tank “are meant to help with the increase in water usage that has occurred.”

NYIT has proposed construction to build new student residences, a dining facility, an academic building and executive offices on its campus, which could further increase water demand in the village. 

The environmental impact analysis of the plan said the proposed construction would require “a total additional 55,198 gallons [of water], per day,” which would equate to approximately an additional 20 million more gallons of water per year. 

Carillo said NYIT is going to pay the village a $900,000 water capital fee that will go into the village’s water capital fund and will be used to help for the additional wells and storage tank.

The average water bill for village residents is $996, Carillo said, not counting high end users.

Large users, Carillo said, were Old Westbury Golf and Country Club, Glen Oaks Club, Old Westbury Diner, the New York Institute of Technology and SUNY Old Westbury.

Most of the increased water usage comes from irrigation, Carillo said.  

Due to the increased demand for water, Carillo said, residents who feel there is an error with their water bill should contact the village.

Carillo said, Tom O’Connor, the village’s superintendent of Water, will go to the home of any resident that feels there is an issue and will attempt to resolve it. 

Village officials met with D&B Engineers and Architects, P.C., a few weeks ago, Carillo said, to see if they agreed with the village’s decision to add the new wells and storage tank. 

Carillo said the village has met with D&B again, but have yet to hear back from them. 

Officials have also met with H2M, the village’s water consulting firm, Carillo said. 

H2M made the original recommendation to the village to get the new wells and storage tank. 

“We always like to get a second opinion,” Carillo said 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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