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A Few Clouds Water meeting on tap
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The Franklin Square group has scheduled a meeting for Jan. 20 to discuss the issue, and representatives of the Water Authority of Western Nassau County are expected to attend.
“The last meeting we had where brown water was discussed was standing-room-only,” said Vincent Toma, president of the association, estimating that as many as 200 people showed up.
The concern is that brown water will damage plumbing and washing machines, destroy clothing and possibly affect residents’ health, Toma said. In addition, a number of people have low water pressure, and are also worried that it would affect firefighting efforts.
“Water filters are completely blackened and clogged in a matter of six weeks,” Toma said. “I’ve been in Franklin Square for six years and the problem comes and goes. My little boy was in the tub and black water came out of the faucet. He screamed and ran out.”
There are a variety of rusty iron flakes and chunks of iron pieces in the pipes, Toma said, adding that the water authority takes a Band-Aid approach to fixing the problem by periodically opening up fire hydrants in the area.
Assemblyman Tom Alfano, who has expressed concerns about the brown water, will be attending the meeting. “Imagine, if you will, your children unable to bathe in their homes because of brown water,” Alfano said in a statement. “Imagine, if you will, brown water coming from the faucet as you are washing dishes, preparing food or cleaning your house. And, you can’t do anything about it. The only resolution they have is to buy bottled water to cook, clean and drink. That is what the people of this community are dealing with. And it has to stop now. It is intolerable and, quite frankly, unacceptable.”
Water authority officials say they are aware of residents’ concerns and have come up with solutions to the problem. “We are replacing 11,000 feet of piping on First, Second and Third Avenue in Franklin Square,” said Bob Swartz, the authority’s chief engineer. “That’s the oldest piping in Franklin Square, and we will probably do more. That’s where we’re starting.”
The project is set to begin in the spring and will be completed in three to four months, Swartz said. People in that area should see results immediately. The water authority will also start an iron removal treatment plan, in which a filtering system will be built where the wells are. The water will go through the filter before it reaches residents.
That isn’t enough, Toma said, explaining that the affected homes are closer to the Southern Parkway, far from First, Second and Third avenues. “The water authority is putting Band-Aids on problems that are getting bigger and bigger,” he said.
The civic association meeting will be held at North High School, 750 Herman Ave. in Franklin Square, at 7 p.m. on Jan. 20.
Comments about this story? FSeditor@liherald.com or (516) 569-4000 ext. 206.
“The last meeting we had where brown water was discussed was standing-room-only,” said Vincent Toma, president of the association, estimating that as many as 200 people showed up.
The concern is that brown water will damage plumbing and washing machines, destroy clothing and possibly affect residents’ health, Toma said. In addition, a number of people have low water pressure, and are also worried that it would affect firefighting efforts.
“Water filters are completely blackened and clogged in a matter of six weeks,” Toma said. “I’ve been in Franklin Square for six years and the problem comes and goes. My little boy was in the tub and black water came out of the faucet. He screamed and ran out.”
There are a variety of rusty iron flakes and chunks of iron pieces in the pipes, Toma said, adding that the water authority takes a Band-Aid approach to fixing the problem by periodically opening up fire hydrants in the area.
Water authority officials say they are aware of residents’ concerns and have come up with solutions to the problem. “We are replacing 11,000 feet of piping on First, Second and Third Avenue in Franklin Square,” said Bob Swartz, the authority’s chief engineer. “That’s the oldest piping in Franklin Square, and we will probably do more. That’s where we’re starting.”
The project is set to begin in the spring and will be completed in three to four months, Swartz said. People in that area should see results immediately. The water authority will also start an iron removal treatment plan, in which a filtering system will be built where the wells are. The water will go through the filter before it reaches residents.
That isn’t enough, Toma said, explaining that the affected homes are closer to the Southern Parkway, far from First, Second and Third avenues. “The water authority is putting Band-Aids on problems that are getting bigger and bigger,” he said.
The civic association meeting will be held at North High School, 750 Herman Ave. in Franklin Square, at 7 p.m. on Jan. 20.
Comments about this story? FSeditor@liherald.com or (516) 569-4000 ext. 206.
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