Veolia Long Island

The Veolia Water Long Island Story

Veolia Water is here to stay.Wastewater treatment plants are perhaps the most critical pieces of infrastructure in any municipality. In this modern society the act of taking a shower or using a toilet is something people do without a second thought of what happens when the waters swirls down the drain. However in the last decade some communities in Nassau County began to discover exactly what happens and the ramifications when the wastewater treatment process is poorly managed and maintained.Decades of neglect lead to poor and unsafe working conditions at both the Cedar Creek Water Pollution Plant and the Bay Park Sewage Treatment Plant. County Executive Ed Mangano, who took office in January, 2011, knew the repair and restoration of both the plants and the environment ranked among the highest priorities of his administration. Every course of action possible was explored, including entering into a public/private partnership with a company that had established a long history of success in both saving taxpayer dollars while implementing improving operations and improving the environment. After a competitive bidding process Veolia Water was chosen as the company which would lead the charge and help restore the local environment. The company has a rich history in environmental services and is a natural fit to serve Nassau County.On October 29, 2012 the need for sweeping and dramatic change was made unavoidable when Superstorm Sandy caused record flooding and never before seen destruction, including knocking the Bay Park Sewage Treatment Plant offline and sending raw sewage through the streets. It was the worst-case scenario and one that cannot ever be repeated.For the next two years the Mangano Administration continued its efforts to privatize the operations of the county’s wastewater system. In September, 2014 a contract was finalized between Nassau County and Veolia Water. The contract was approved by the both the 19-member Nassau County Legislature as well as the Nassau Interim Finance Authority (NIFA). Veolia Water began its long-term relationship with Nassau County on January 2, 2015.

The Contract

The public/private partnership between Veolia Water and Nassau County is a 20-year agreement.Nassau County will continue to oversee all aid and capital spending at the plants, not Veolia Water. In addition, Veolia Water has no rate-setting power. This is a Nassau County function. Veolia Water works under a fixed operation fee of $57.4 million per year. This public/private partnership will save taxpayers more than $230 million over the course of the contract term, a number which can grow through the years.Under the contract, Veolia Water is responsible for the management and operation of the following:

Veolia Water is committed to an unprecedented transparency for the community. This open door policy for the community provides residents a full picture of the operations under the purview of Veolia Water, including:

  • Monthly reports submitted to DEC
  • Maintenance reports
  • A live video feed of outfall in Reynolds Channel
  • Quarterly meetings with community, plus additional meetings as requested.
  • Facility tours per request.

Outreach and Charitable Giving

Veolia Water became vested in the Long Island community before a contract was even finalized. In 2013 Veolia Water, working with Citizens Campaign for the Environment (CCE), Operation SPLASH and local business, established the Dispose My Meds program. The goal of the program is to provide people a location to safely discard unused medications so they would be properly handled and not flushed in the toilet or thrown out with the weekly household garbage. This initiative helps keep the medications out of the water supply, another major step in protecting and preserving Earth’s most precious resource.Many King Kullen supermarket locations are active in the program, which has been a resounding success and has a bright future.Nationwide, Veolia Water donates close to $1.5 million each year in direct contributions and in-kind services to hundreds of local organizations and groups across the country.Our primary focus is to support nonprofits organizations dedicated to the environment, education, and humanitarian services.Our own charity—UW Cares—helps our customers pay their water bills during temporary financial hardships. Learn more about UW Cares or about our philanthropic support at Giving for Good Causes.

Veolia Water’s Commitment to Nassau County

We pledge to sustainably operate and manage the Nassau County Sewage Treatment System in partnership with the County to top environmental and compliance standards and regulations. It will take some time to make all the improvements we’re planning, but in the end, we will create a state-of-the-art, resilient public service which Nassau County can rely upon.Through better management efficiencies, staffing strategies and the implementation of cutting edged technologies Veolia Water will save dollars and improve operations, the result of which is a positive impact on the environment.