The Port Washington Water District has partnered with the Port Washington Water Pollution Control District on a water conservation initiative that will save approximately 625,000 gallons of water per year.

The PWWD and PWWPCD engaged in discussions on conservation opportunities late last year to see where water saving could be achieved. After conducting internal research, the PWWPCD determined that a significant amount of water could be saved by installing a new hydrant system within the treatment plant to use treated effluent water for maintenance operations rather than potable water in the first half of 2023.

“We are very excited to embark on this initiative with the Port Washington Water Pollution Control District,” PWWD Commissioner Peter Meyer said. “Water conservation is a priority of ours at the PWWD, and it is great to see our counterparts at the water pollution control district take significant actions to further conserve our precious water source. This is a great example of local governments working together to accomplish a goal that ultimately benefits our shared communities.”

The initiative will see the sewer district use fully treated and disinfected effluent water from this new hydrant system to clean and flush the sanitary sewer mains throughout its service area. As a result, hundreds of thousands of gallons of potable drinking water, which had previously been used in this capacity, will be saved every year through treatment and reuse.

“Being part of this initiative is crucial, we understand how important water conservation is to the entire community,” PWWPCD Superintendent Windsor Kinney said. “Our purpose at the PWWPCD is to protect the public health and the environment, doing so in partnership with the water district will promote real results on a local level.  We look forward to improving our operations with this new technology and the environmental benefits that it will bring to Port Washington”

While the PWWD and PWWPCD serve different roles in the Port Washington community, both provide crucial services upon which the community relies greatly. The successful partnership on this initiative shows what is possible for other similar special districts when it comes to working together to protect our most precious natural resource.