As part of its continuing campaign to educate the community about water quality and treatment, the Bethpage Water District recently hosted over 200 students from 10 classes from the Bethpage School District. These fifth-grade students received hands-on educational tours of the District’s advanced water treatment facility and learned about water conservation and where their high-quality drinking water comes from. Michael Boufis, Bethpage Water District Superintendent, provided the students with a comprehensive behind the scenes tour of the more than $20 million dollar operation. Students asked many questions and sampled the fresh, clean, high-quality drinking water that is supplied by the District each day to over 33,000 consumers.
During the tour, students witnessed and experienced the many steps and actions taken throughout the treatment process. They learned about pump equipment, air strippers, Advanced Oxidation Process (AOP) and Granular Activated Carbon (GAC). Experiencing the technology in action provided the students with a clear understanding of the District’s responsibility to ensure drinking water is clean and safe for the community.
“For 100 years, the Bethpage Water District has been delivering high quality drinking water to our consumers. Our staff and every one of my fellow commissioners welcome the opportunity to showcase our state-of-the-art facilities to young people and educate them about what goes into producing the quality drinking water they have in their homes. We love Bethpage and having our young students share these experiences with their families is special,” said John F. Coumatos, Chairman of the Board, Bethpage Water District.
“Commissioner Coumatos and District staff are truly dedicated to educating our students about clean water and how it is pumped from way underground. It is critical that our students understand where their drinking water comes from and all that goes into delivering it to their homes every day,” said Lorraine Marcis, Science Enrichment Teacher, Bethpage School District.
The Bethpage Water District is considered a leader in New York State in terms of delivering the highest quality drinking water to their community. The District has designed, constructed, and currently maintains the most advanced and complex drinking water treatment systems in the nation. The Bethpage Water District reached a historic achievement in 2023, as this year marks the 100th anniversary of the local water utility. Throughout the year, the District will be hosting additional educational and community events.
For more information about The Bethpage Water District and to schedule educational tours, visit www.bethpagewater.com, or call (516) 931-0093.