Gotham

Water conservation cleans Long Island Sound, RL Swanson, DJ Tonjes

Marine vessels serving New York City, W Goyzueta, J Chen, K Byrnes, R Ferro

Line stops avoid bypass in pumping station, F Gallo

Pilot biological nutrient removal, B Bodniewicz, K Mahoney

Enhanced beach protection — 2000, FJ Oliveri, F Loncar, M Ellis

Telemetering in New York, S Rozelman, S Aziz

Job order contracting, MP Quinn, P Schrayer

Operational benefits of celebrating Water Week, RE Adamski, H Einsohn, M Keating, A Lamarche, B Oliveri

CSO signage: expanded notification, S Rozelman, P Lutz, F Loncar

Executive director's message, P Cerro-Reehil

People and places

Summer 2001 — Vol. 31, No. 2

Executive director's message

by Patricia Cerro-Reehil

During Adam Zabinski's term as President, he followed through on an important initiative originally started by 1999-President Ronald C. Delo: outreach and communication with elected officials on environmental regulations and financing for New York's water infrastructure.

• The first letter to elected officials covered the
State Revolving Loan Fund, specifically:
• Increasing the subsidy from 50 to 100% (no interest
bonds)
• Extending the repayment term to 30 years to make
municipal water infrastructure projects more affordable.

 
To strengthen NYWEA's position, we teamed and asked the NY Conference of Mayors (NYCOM), the Association of Towns of the State of New York (AOTSNY), and the New York State Association of Counties (NYSAC) to co-sign this letter. (Visit our web site to read these letters).
A second letter was sent to elected officials urging them to introduce legislation necessary to implement a new construction grants program. These activities follow closely one of the goals of the 1999 Strategic Plan.

Here's the Great News! We were recently informed that NYSDEC, in cooperation with NYSEFC, is extending the term for the Clean Water State Revolving Fund. Additionally, municipalities will see an increased amount available to them from the STF program.

I am sure that our letters over the years have helped to facilitate this change. To that end, we are interested in sending a second round of letters in conjunction with our sister organization NYSAWWA to emphasize further the need for action.

Again, it is the talented members of this organization that help us to further our mission to protect and enhance our water environment. If you are not already involved, help us to make a difference! Join a committee or get involved with your local chapter.

Together we can accelerate change.

Be sure to visit us online at www.nywea.org

-- Patricia Cerro-Reehil