Watereuse Assoc. Recognizes SUEZ with Excellence in Action Award

SUEZ today received the ‘Excellence in Action’ award at the Watereuse Association’s 2021 Annual Watereuse Symposium in recognition for our commitment to using recycled water in Nassau County for commercial purposes and watershed restoration. SUEZ worked with Nassau County to construct water reuse systems at both the South Shore Water Reclamation Facility (Bay Park) in East Rockaway, NY and the Cedar Creek Water Reclamation Facility in Wantagh, NY.

Long Island’s drinking water comes from a sole source aquifer that is under pressure from population density, salt water intrusion and legacy pollution. Water reuse systems implemented at the two water reclamation facilities, which serve approximately 1.2 million residents on the South Shore of Nassau County, reduced the use of this precious ground water for plant purposes.

“We have worked with Nassau County officials in an effort to implement additional water reuse systems, furthering our commitment to protecting Long Island’s drinking water and returning clean water safely back into the environment,” said SUEZ North America CEO Nadine Leslie. “This award from the Watereuse Association clearly recognizes our joint commitment to both the environment and the residents of Nassau County through the implementation of these water reuse systems.”

The water reuse system at Cedar Creek further treats water to a higher standard for use as cooling water, seal water to flush away contaminants and for plant maintenance. Before the system went in place, the plant used roughly four million gallons of safe drinking water per week. Now Cedar Creek saves about 300 million gallons of safe drinking water per year, a reduction of about 80 percent.

After the success of these water reuse systems, SUEZ plans to explore the feasibility of implementing a larger system at the South Shore Water Reclamation Facility akin to the system at Cedar Creek, as well as explore the possibility of expanding the system to water the adjacent County golf course with treated plant effluent.