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Hicksville Water District Chairman Karl Schweitzer Seeks 2024 Reelection
Schweitzer Hopes to Bring Knowledge and 20-Plus Experience Into Another Term
Hicksville, NY (November 4, 2024) - Hicksville Water District (HWD) Chairman Karl Schweitzer is seeking reelection this year to maintain a spot on the HWD Board of Commissioners, where he has served his community since first being elected in 2003. With nearly two decades of experience under his belt, Schweitzer brings a wealth of passion and knowledge of what it takes to provide residents with top quality water service.
“Serving the Hicksville Water District has been one of the greatest honors of my life,” Chairman Schweitzer said. “While I am tremendously proud of everything we have accomplished during my tenure as Chairman, there are still many challenges that lie ahead. If elected to another term, I plan on taking those challenges head on and doing everything I can to help our neighbors continue to prosper. Our community will not be disappointed.”
Schweitzer has overseen the Hicksville Water District’s operations during one of the most difficult times of its 100-year history. The emergence of 1,4-dioxane PFOS/PFAS in the area’s water supply forced the Board to find treatment options never before used by the District, as these emerging contaminants could not be treated by traditional methods. Under Schweitzer’s leadership, the District swiftly brought in Advanced Oxidation Process (AOP) and Granular Activated Carbon (GAC) equipment in an effort to ensure Hicksville’s water remains as high quality as possible.
The contaminants have impacted 12 of the district’s 14 supply wells are a result of legacy industrial and commercial activities within the District. Over the past four years, under Schweitzer’s leadership, the district has aggressively pursued the installation of the most state-of-the-art water treatment technology available. His foresight to procure equipment upfront knowing that supply chain issues were occurring, allowed the district to be well ahead of the curve. The investment in this technology has paid off, as the district currently has 9 supply wells up and running, and 2 more are expected to be online later this year. Schweitzer’s determination and willingness to pursue all avenues to reduce costs even further, includes litigation against potential polluters.
As Commissioner and a resident of the District ourselves, he strives to deliver the highest-quality water possible in the most efficient and cost-effective manner; one that guards against overtaxing. Local control of your water district enables the District to keep costs lower than the national average and every dollar taken in by the District gets reinvested back into the cost of water.
Environmental health and safety is Schweitzer’s priority, and his record proves that it is always at the forefront of his service. A perennial public servant, Schweitzer is also a third-generation firefighter and has been a member of the Hicksville Fire Department for over 43 years. He has also served as a committee member of the Old Courthouse Centennial Celebration and as co-chairman of the 350th anniversary celebration of the Robert Williams Purchase. He was also involved in the restoration of the Gregory Museum. For his dedication to his community, Schweitzer was named Citizen of the Year by the Hicksville Chamber of Commerce in 1998 and was honored by the Hicksville Community Council in 2006. He has been a member of the Nassau/Suffolk Water Commissioners Association (NSWCA) since 2003, serving as its president in 2007. In 2011, he would go onto to serve as Chairman of the Long Island Water Conference (LIWC) and he was a member of the Long Island Committee of Aquifer Protection (LICAP).
Voters will have the opportunity to cast their ballots on Tuesday, December 10 from 3 pm to 9 pm at Hicksville Fire Department Stations located on Levittown Parkway and East Marie Street. If residents choose to elect Schweitzer once again, he promises to take on the responsibility with the same commitment to his community he has shown for decades.
