In the Beginning
1904: In the early years, individual wells and cisterns were constructed to provide water to each residence and a sole well was situated in the downtown area for purposes of firefighting. So, in 1904, when a fire broke out in Westbury’s business district, the singular well was rapidly depleted and the fire department was left with no immediate source of water. Six years later, with this disastrous event still a vivid memory, a committee of concerned citizens worked diligently for a few short months to formulate a water district to supply water to less than 1,000 residents.
January 26, 1911: The adjacent newspaper clipping was discovered among historical archives tucked away at the Westbury Water District. In the January 26, 1911 edition of what is speculated to be The Westbury Times, which was founded in 1907, North Hempstead Town Clerk Monroe S. Wood posted this public notice. It was to announce a town board meeting on February 9, 1911 to consider a petition to establish a water district in the territory described in the news clipping.
February 17, 1911: Over one hundred years ago, the first meeting of the commissioners of the Westbury Water District was held. By April 3, the district had accepted bids for various services including laying pipes and setting fire hydrants as well as critical supplies such as valves, piping, a water tank and pumps. The district floated water bonds in the amount of $60,000 for this initial undertaking. By May of 1911, the first section of 8-inch pipe was laid on Maple Avenue, running from Grand Street to Ellison Avenue. By September of that year, well # 1 was situated at a depth of 505 feet, where water was pumped by vertical engines.
The water was kept in a 100,000 gallon storage tank, which was located near the water district’s main headquarters on Drexel Avenue.
Over the next 12 years, the district switched to gasoline run engines, then to kerosene engines that were used in conjunction with an ingenious air-lift pumping system that operated by forcing air into a well through a casement, thereby pushing water into a central in-ground reservoir. From this location, booster pumps fed the public distribution system. Each of these changes was made in an attempt to improve efficiency and reduce operating costs. By 1923, oil-powered engines were being utilized to handle the job. Progress was fast.
1924: The district began supplying water to neighboring areas such as Old Westbury and Carle Place, which eventually established their own water utilities in 1935 and 1949 respectively.
1947: The population of Westbury Village had increased to 4,525 by 1940, but it wasn’t until 1947 when the Westbury Water District installed a one-million-gallon above-ground storage tank. One decade later, when the population in the village had skyrocketed to 14,575, an additional 1.5-million-gallon underground tank was constructed on State Street.
1954: The New Cassel Water District became part of the Westbury Water District, which was also expanded to include a small service area north of Jericho Turnpike known as “Polo Field Park.” As the district’s boundaries became defined and the population being served by the water utility steadily increased so too did the number of wells needed to provide an adequate supply of water. By this time, they were being equipped with more modern electric pumps, which were eventually backed up by generators to ensure uninterrupted water service in the event of a blackout.
As the turn of the century became closer, water testing became more exacting and state-of-the-art equipment became more available to water purveyors, the district began introducing more modern equipment at its well sites and throughout the distribution system. Additionally, antiquated equipment and procedures were replaced over time by more current infrastructure and methods.
2003: With the installation of well #18 on Jericho Turnpike, the district was capable of pumping 18 million gallons of water per day. In 1995, the district’s first air-stripping tower was installed to remove any constituents that may be present in the water. Just prior to that, a new computerized system was added that is capable of operating the wells on an as-needed basis as the demand for water fluctuates according to season, temperature and time of day. These are only some samples of the numerous projects the district has undertaken in more recent times.
2018: Background on drinking water and emerging contaminants.
2020: Responding to COVID-19 and the pandemic. Received a deferral.
2021: First traces of emerging contaminants found in wells, two of which were taken offline. A 5-year capital improvement plan was developed and the District received a $65 bond approval from the Town of North Hempstead to design, construct and install state-of-the-art water treatment technology to remove emerging contaminants from the water supply.
2022 – 2023: The design and construction of the advanced oxidation treatment (AOP) plant at Drexel Avenue, Well No. 6 and No. 7A is now underway and will take two years to complete.
Present Day Overview
The water that gets delivered to a consumer’s home or business is tested regularly for more than 135 parameters and meets or exceeds all local, state and federal health department standards.
The District operates out of its headquarters at 160 Drexel Avenue in Westbury. Field workers, supervisors and the board of commissioners are equally committed to excellence when it comes to delivering an abundant supply of high quality water at an affordable rate.
As its founding members intended some 100 years ago, the Westbury Water District continues to be run by three commissioners who reside in the service area and are each elected by the public to serve a three-year term. They jointly oversee all functions of the district’s operating budget and are held responsible for working together in the best interest of public health and safety to ensure a continuous flow and abundant supply of water for domestic use and firefighting purposes. Together, they handle all fiduciary responsibilities, running the district much like a small business, rather than a large conglomerate.
The over-arching goal is to provide the residents of Westbury with a clean, safe, abundant water supply at a reasonable rate.
Katika miaka ya mapema, visima na mabwawa ya kibinafsi yalijengwa ili kutoa maji kwa kila makazi na kisima kimoja kilikuwa katika eneo la katikati mwa mji kwa madhumuni ya kuzima moto. Mwaka 1904, moto ulipotokea katika eneo la biashara la Westbury, kisima hicho kilitoweka haraka na idara ya moto ikaachwa bila chanzo cha maji. Miaka sita baadaye, na tukio hili la msiba bado likikumbukwa kwa uchangamfu, kamati ya wananchi waliojali ilifanya kazi kwa bidii kwa miezi michache kufanyiza wilaya ya maji ili kuandaa maji kwa wakazi wa chini ya elfu moja. "Jarida la gazeti la ""The Westbury Water District"" liligunduliwa Januari 26, 1911 katika jengo la Westbury Water District." Katika toleo la Januari 26, 1911 la gazeti la The Westbury Times, ambalo lilianzishwa mwaka 1907, mwandishi wa mji wa North Hempstead, Monroe S. Wood, aliweka taarifa hii ya umma. Mkutano wa bodi ya mji ulifanyika Februari 9, 1911 ili kuchunguza ombi la kuanzisha wilaya ya maji katika eneo lililoelezwa katika kipande cha habari. 17 Februari 1911 - Mkutano wa kwanza wa wakomishna wa Wilaya ya Maji ya Westbury ulifanyika. Kufikia Aprili 3, wilaya hiyo ilikuwa imekubali zabuni za huduma mbalimbali ikiwa ni pamoja na kuweka mabomba na kuweka hidrants za moto pamoja na vifaa muhimu kama vile valves, mabomba, tangi la maji na pampu. Mji huo ulitoa dhamana ya maji kwa kiasi cha dola 60,000 kwa ajili ya mradi huu wa kwanza. Mnamo Mei 1911, sehemu ya kwanza ya bomba la inchi 8 iliwekwa kwenye Maple Avenue, ikianzia Grand Street hadi Ellison Avenue. Kufikia Septemba mwaka huo, kisima cha kwanza kilikuwa kina kina cha futi 505, ambapo maji yalipigwa na injini za wima. Maji hayo yalihifadhiwa katika tangi lenye lita 100,000, lililokuwa karibu na makao makuu ya wilaya ya maji kwenye barabara ya Drexel Avenue. Katika miaka 12 iliyofuata, wilaya hiyo ilibadilisha injini za petroli na kisha injini za petroli ambazo zilitumiwa pamoja na mfumo wa pampu ya hewa ya ubunifu ambao ulifanya kazi kwa kulazimisha hewa kuingia ndani ya kisima kupitia casement, na hivyo kushinikiza maji ndani ya hifadhi ya chini ya ardhi. Kutoka mahali hapo, pampu za kuongeza mafuta ziliingiza maji katika mfumo wa usambazaji wa umma. Kila moja ya mabadiliko haya yalifanywa katika jaribio la kuboresha ufanisi na kupunguza gharama za uendeshaji. Kufikia mwaka wa 1923, injini za mafuta zilikuwa zikitumiwa kufanya kazi hiyo. Maendeleo yalifanywa upesi. Mwaka 1924 Wilaya ya Westbury ilianza kutoa maji kwa maeneo ya jirani kama vile Old Westbury na Carlisle Place, ambayo hatimaye ilianzisha huduma zao za maji mwaka 1935 na 1949. Mwaka 1947 idadi ya watu wa Westbury Village iliongezeka hadi 4,525, lakini haikuwa hadi mwaka 1947 wakati Wilaya ya Maji ya Westbury ilipoweka tangi la kuhifadhi maji la galoni milioni moja juu ya ardhi. Baada ya miaka kumi, wakati idadi ya watu katika kijiji hicho ilipozidi kuongezeka hadi 14,575, tangi jingine la chini ya ardhi lenye lita milioni 1.5 lilijengwa kwenye State Street. 1954: Wilaya ya Maji ya New Cassel ikawa sehemu ya Wilaya ya Maji ya Westbury, ambayo pia ilipanuliwa kujumuisha eneo dogo la huduma kaskazini mwa Jericho Turnpike inayojulikana kama Polo Field Park, wakati mipaka ya wilaya ilipofafanuliwa na idadi ya watu wanaohudumiwa na huduma ya maji iliongezeka kwa kasi, hivyo pia idadi ya visima ilihitajiwa kutoa usambazaji wa kutosha wa maji. Wakati huo, walikuwa wamekuwa na pampu za umeme za kisasa zaidi, ambazo hatimaye zilikuwa zikiungwa mkono na jenereta ili kuhakikisha huduma ya maji bila kukatika iwapo kutakuwa na umeme. Wakati wa kuzaliwa kwa maji, maji yalibadilika kuwa vifaa vya hali ya juu na vifaa vya kisasa vilipopatikana kwa wauzaji wa maji, wilaya ilianza kuanzisha vifaa vya kisasa zaidi katika maeneo yake ya kisima na katika mfumo wote wa usambazaji. Kwa kuongezea, vifaa na taratibu za zamani zilibadilishwa kwa muda na miundombinu na mbinu za kisasa zaidi. Baada ya kuanzishwa kwa shimo la 18 kwenye barabara ya Jericho, eneo hilo lilipata uwezo wa kusukuma lita milioni 18 za maji kwa siku. Mwaka 1995 mnara wa kwanza wa kuondoa hewa uliwekwa ili kuondoa vitu vyote vinavyoweza kuwa ndani ya maji. Kabla ya hapo, mfumo mpya wa kompyuta uliongezwa ambao una uwezo wa kuendesha visima kwa msingi wa mahitaji ya maji kulingana na msimu, joto na wakati wa siku. Hizi ni sampuli chache tu za miradi mingi ambayo wilaya hiyo imefanya katika nyakati za karibuni. 2018: Maelezo ya msingi juu ya maji ya kunywa na uchafuzi unaojitokeza. 2020: Kujibu COVID-19 na janga. Alipokea uhamisho. 2021: Vipimo vya kwanza vya uchafuzi vinavyotokea vimepatikana katika visima, viwili kati ya hivyo viliondolewa. Mpango wa kuboresha mtaji wa miaka mitano uliundwa na Wilaya ilipokea idhini ya dhamana ya $ 65 kutoka kwa Jiji la North Hempstead kubuni, kujenga na kusanikisha teknolojia ya kisasa ya matibabu ya maji ili kuondoa uchafuzi unaojitokeza kutoka kwa usambazaji wa maji. 2022: Ubunifu na ujenzi wa kiwanda cha matibabu ya oksidi ya hali ya juu (AOP) katika Drexel Avenue, Well No. 6 na No. Mpango wa 7A unaendelea na utachukua miaka miwili kukamilika. Maji ya maji ya maji ya maji ya maji ya maji ya maji ya maji ya maji ya maji ya maji ya maji ya maji ya maji ya maji ya maji ya maji ya maji ya maji ya maji ya maji ya maji ya maji ya maji ya maji ya maji ya maji ya maji ya maji ya maji ya maji ya maji ya maji ya maji ya maji ya maji ya maji ya maji ya maji ya maji ya maji ya maji ya maji ya maji ya maji ya maji ya maji ya maji ya maji ya maji ya maji ya maji ya maji ya maji ya maji ya maji ya maji ya maji ya maji. Mji huo una makao makuu yake katika 160 Drexel Avenue huko Westbury. Wafanyakazi wa shamba, wasimamizi na bodi ya wakomishna wamejitolea sawa kwa ubora linapokuja suala la kutoa ugavi mwingi wa maji ya ubora wa juu kwa kiwango cha bei nafuu. Kama vile washiriki wa mwanzilishi wake walivyokusudia miaka 100 hivi iliyopita, Wilaya ya Maji ya Westbury inaendelea kuendeshwa na kamishna watatu ambao wanaishi katika eneo la huduma na kila mmoja huchaguliwa na umma kutumikia muhula wa miaka mitatu. Wanachunguza pamoja kazi zote za bajeti ya uendeshaji wa wilaya na wanawajibika kwa kufanya kazi pamoja kwa maslahi bora ya afya ya umma na usalama ili kuhakikisha mtiririko wa maji ya kuendelea na ya wingi kwa matumizi ya ndani na madhumuni ya kuzima moto. Pamoja, wao kushughulikia majukumu yote fiduciary, kuendesha wilaya sana kama biashara ndogo, badala ya konglomerate kubwa. Lengo kuu ni kuwapa wakazi wa Westbury maji safi, salama, na mengi kwa bei ya busara.