The Great Neck Water Pollution Control District recently received the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation’s Environmental Excellence Award, which recognizes projects that demonstrate state-of-the-art programs and a commitment to environmental sustainability, social responsibility and economic viability.
The district, which covers much of Great Neck and part of Manhasset, was presented this prestigious award in recognition of its current green technology and ongoing projects, including the construction of Nassau County’s first grease receiving station, upgrades to the District’s anaerobic digesters and the addition of the facility’s third micro-turbine.
“The District is extremely honored to be one of the organizations to have received the 2018 NYSDEC Environmental Excellence Award and be among an elite group of organizations advocating innovation and sustainability in our specific industries and communities,” said Great Neck Water Pollution Control District Commissioner Steve Reiter. “The projects currently underway at our facility will generate sustainability, lower costs and have a positive impact on the environment for generations to come.”
The ongoing projects at the District’s facility are set to be a model of synergistic environmental sustainability once complete. The addition of a grease receiving station will allow the District to accept grease from local restaurants—generating over $100,000 per year in hauler fees. This grease will feed the anaerobic digesters, which will more than double the District’s methane bio-fuel production.
This process ends in the micro-turbines where the methane bio-fuel produced in the anaerobic digesters is burned, thus generating electricity to power the facility. The two current micro-turbines produce 35 percent of the District’s electricity and 80 percent of the District’s heating requirements—with those numbers expected to increase to 50 percent and 100 percent, respectively, once the third micro-turbine is online. Due to this, the District is set to increase its utility cost savings.
“These environmentally-friendly infrastructure projects, working in unison, demonstrate our commitment to leadership with present and future solutions to the environmental challenges while lessening the burden for local taxpayers,” said Great Neck Water Pollution Control District Commissioner Patty Katz. “These improvements showcase what is possible for treatment facilities and serves as a model for others in the region regardless of a facility’s size.”
In addition to these projects, the District has been recognized for its ongoing initiatives aimed at protecting the environment, including its water conservation efforts that save 27 million gallons of drinking water annually, its Shed the Meds program that has collected over 800 pounds of unwanted or expired medications, and its F.R.O.G.s initiative that has educated residents and commercial business about the harmful effects that fats, roots, oil and grease have on sewer pipes.
For additional information and updates about the Great Neck Water Pollution Control District, please call the office at 516-482-0238 or visit the website at www.gnwpcd.net.
