Politics & Government

Jericho Water District Planning Major Upgrades

Town agrees to help finance $15.25 million in improvements.

The Town of Oyster Bay has agreed to float municipal bonds to make major improvements to the sprawling Jericho Water District.

At a public hearing Tuesday, representatives of the district outlined a series of upgrades to its facilities, which services major portions of Jericho, Old Brookville, Syosset and Woodbury, some of Brookville, East Norwich and Muttontown and border areas stretching from Glenwood Landing, Laurel Hollow, Old Westbury, Oyster Bay Cove, Upper Brookville and even to Plainview.

Three of the district's 14 water facilities need significant repairs, including its tanks at Split Rock and Wheatley. The latter needs to be replaced. The district is also addressing an ongoing issue with nitrate levels emanating from some of its wells, said Michael Ingham, an attorney representing the district.

The cost of the project is estimated to be $15.25 million and will be financed by 30-year municipal bonds issued by the Town of Oyster Bay. Unlike school districts, the town's water districts can not issue their own bonds.

At the meeting, the board voted unanimously to authorize the issuance of the bonds, which are bought by investors to finance the project and paid off over the course of the notes.

District officials estimated its customers will pay an additional $17 per year for the improvements.

"What you are doing is understandable and necessary," said Supervisor John Venditto.

To Jericho district has been supplying water to the North Shore communities since 1923. It has 19,000 connections spanning 37 square miles. It has an estimated 60,000 users. By that standard, Jericho is the largest commission-run water district in the state, said district Superintendent Peter Logan.

The work is expected to be completed over the next 18 months, district officials said.




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