Elmont hearing set on foul tap water problems

At a hearing in Elmont Monday, civic leaders will describe the water coming out of their home faucets - which they say they won't even consider drinking.

State Sen. Craig Johnson (D-Port Washington) has scheduled the hearing in response to complaints of discolored water in neighborhoods.

Residents of the hamlet in the Town of Hempstead - including leaders of several civic organizations - have complained for about a month about poor water quality, said Rich Azzopardi, a Johnson aide.

The discolored water appears sporadically throughout Elmont, said Mimi Pierre-Johnson, president of Argo Civic Association, one of several citizens groups in the 33,000-resident hamlet.

"It's all over the place," said Pierre-Johnson. "You take a chance with what's coming out of your faucet."

Pierre-Johnson said she and many others have resorted to drinking bottled water only. Some have installed water filtration systems in their homes, she said.

Pierre-Johnson and Patrick Nicolosi, president of the Elmont East End Civic Association, both said they often have no choice but to bathe in the discolored water, which Pierre-Johnson said has a chlorine-like smell.

Nicolosi described the water from his tap as "light brown" and "horrible, to say the least."

Attempts to reach representatives from the water authority and health department were not successful.

Today's hearing, scheduled for 10 a.m. at the Elmont Memorial Library, will help Johnson determine what action he can take, said Azzopardi.

Residents who would like to submit testimony about Elmont water can e-mail johnson@senate.state.ny.us or call 516-746-5923, Azzopardi said.