Hempstead officials hear from critics of Liberty Utilities' proposed 37% water rate hike

Water advocates on Tuesday called on Hempstead Town officials to push the South Nassau Water Authority to take over the private Liberty Utilities operations in Hempstead before a proposed 37% rate hike is enacted.

In May, Liberty Utilities submitted proposed rate increases to the New York State Public Service Commission of 37% in the Merrick district and 29.7% in the Sea Cliff district, according to a filing with the PSC.

The company said in a news release the rate increases are necessary to pay for capital improvements to address iron removal, treatment of so-called forever chemicals PFAS/PFOA, water main replacements and the replacement of lead service lines.

Approximately 120,000 customers in Hempstead get their water from Liberty Utilities rather than municipal water utilities.

“Residents living in the same town should not be treated so differently simply because of what side of the street they happen to live on,” Claudia Borecki, a director of LI Clean Air Water & Soil LTD, told the town board during its meeting.

The group rallied about two dozen residents prior to the meeting.

Town Supervisor John Ferretti responded at the meeting that “we certainly agree that the state Public Service Commission absolutely should not approve any rate hike to Liberty Water. It is absolutely unacceptable.”

In 2021, the state created the South Nassau Water Authority to take over Liberty Utilities' water services in Hempstead. In March, authority officials said they were prepared to engage in negotiations to purchase the utility in the middle of this year, with negotiations expected to last several months.