LongIsland.com

Nassau Suffolk Water Commissioners’ Association Celebrates 35 Years of Service to Long Island Water Consumers

Written by Allison Gayne  |  14. December 2016

Franklin Square, NY - December 14, 2016 - The Nassau Suffolk Water Commissioners’ Association (NSWCA) is celebrating its 35th Anniversary of service to residents of Long Island. Organized and chartered in 1981, the NSWCA membership is comprised of elected water commissioners from 21 Nassau County and Suffolk County water districts. Commemorating this milestone, the organization recently held a special anniversary party at Filomena’s Italian Restaurant in Franklin Square, NY, of which past NSWCA presidents joined current NSWCA President Raymond Averna of Massapequa Water District and current NSWCA members.

Among NSWCA past presidents who participated in the celebration were John Hirt and Gary Brosnan of South Farmingdale Water District, Pasquale Eliseo of Locust Valley Water District, Ralph Pugliese of Franklin Square Water District, Robert McEvoy of Oyster Bay Water District, Howard Abbondondelo of Albertson Water District, and Karl Schweitzer of Hicksville Water District.

NSWCA was originally formed to provide a forum for important topics not normally addressed by other water industry organizations. As a result, the organization’s vision is regional and island-wide while its hands on, day-to-day management of member districts is hyper-local.

“We have supported conservation and sustainability through education, training and legislative advocacy for 35 years,” said Averna. He added, “The NSWCA’s information and educational forum has been crucial to the effectiveness and management of Long Island water districts and the safe, affordable delivery of water to our districts’ constituents. Our mission has three important components. One is resource sustainability of Long Island’s natural aquifer groundwater supply, second is to foster the economic sustainability to support system operating and capital needs while maintaining affordable water rates, and lastly is organizational sustainability for providing exceptional value to the communities we serve.”

2007 NSWCA President Schweitzer commented, “The NSWCA values service and representation of residents from each district.  The importance of local control, where district neighbors have a direct voice in how services are provided and how local taxes are used, can never be underestimated.  NSWCA is as grass roots as you can get, and thereby ensures that the people have a forum and a choice.”

“One governing characteristic of the NSWCA is proactivity,” 2015 NSWCA President Hand said. He continued, “The organization provides in depth training, technology, along with relevant regional, local and industry news as well as a major forum for member districts to reduce costs by sharing diverse ideas. It’s important to know that 100% of the tax dollars that come into our member water districts are dedicated to a safe, efficient and cost effective water delivery system.”

“NSWCA embraced modern communications technology in my presidency with the same zeal that our member districts embrace water production and safeguarding technology,” said 2014 NSWCA President Abbondondelo.  He added, “We modernized our organization for increasing public outreach through the latest communications vehicles to raise consciousness with the constituents who elected us and fulfill NSWCA’s mission to the fullest extent.”

Organized and chartered in 1981, Nassau Suffolk Water Commissioners’ Association (NSWCA) is comprised of water commissioners from 21 Nassau and Suffolk County water districts. The NSWCA is dedicated to promoting environmental excellence and best practices as well as maintaining the highest standards of water quality and supply. NSWCA sponsors regular educational meetings on topics that include the environment, security, economics, rules and regulations, among other related issues.

Copyright © 1996-2024 LongIsland.com & Long Island Media, Inc. All rights reserved.