(BALDWIN, N.Y.) – Following a water main break in Baldwin – the second such incident in the area since mid-June – Nassau County Legislator Debra Mulé (D – Freeport) is renewing her demands for Liberty New York Water and the County to make the necessary investments toward securing all aspects of Nassau’s aging infrastructure, and for the Town of Hempstead to complete the transition to municipal water under the South Nassau Water Authority.
The early-morning break, which occurred underneath Winona Road, interrupted water service for 115 Baldwin homes for most of Monday, Sept. 30 and caused severe flooding in properties throughout the impacted area.
For this Baldwin neighborhood, it is their second disruptive water main break in approximately four months, making it the latest example of serious infrastructure issues in the Liberty Water network and throughout Nassau County. Following the previous Baldwin incident, Legislator Mulé on June 14 led small business owners and residents in demanding immediate reimbursements from Liberty Water and calling for greater emphasis on bolstering Nassau’s aging infrastructure.
Previously, during the summer of 2023, Legislator Mulé urged the County to dramatically increase its investment in infrastructure remediation after south shore communities suffered three sinkholes over a two-month span. As part of her call to action, she demanded infrastructure studies of sewer pipes and water mains so that potential hazards can be proactively addressed.
“This water main break is yet another clarion call for Nassau County to take decisive action to secure and repair our aging infrastructure,” Legislator Mulé said. “The first steps we must take are to greatly elevate our commitment to completing essential water, sewer, and road infrastructure upgrades in the County’s 2025 capital plan and finally proceed at the Town level with removing control of our drinking water from a for-profit corporation that has failed ratepayers time and again. Until that happens, we will continue to experience substandard service and more frequent catastrophic incidents that will cost taxpayers more money to repair than if we take bold action now.”
Under the Nassau County Charter, a Fiscal Year 2025 capital budget proposal must be filed no later than Tuesday, Oct. 15.