The Roslyn Water District would like to remind residents that third-quarter bills, which are currently being processed, are typically the highest water bill of the year as they account for the high-usage months of July, August and September.

In fact, nearly two-thirds of the water pumped by the District throughout the year occurs during these three summer months. This staggering increase in water usage is almost exclusively attributed to the use of residential lawn irrigation systems.

“We understand that some residents may be surprised when they see their incoming third quarter bills, especially those who may have moved into our District within the last year,” said RWD Chairman Michael Kosinski. “However, it is important to remember that billed amounts are based on water usage, and since these bills are determined by summer water use, they are naturally the highest of the year. We encourage any resident who has questions about their bills to reach out to our office.”

The increase in water use between the first quarter of 2023 and the third quarter is significant.

From January through March, the RWD pumped approximately 154.1 million gallons, mostly only using four of its eight wells. This amount of water usage accounts for typical household uses, such as drinking, showering, laundry, etc.

However, between July and September, the number of gallons pumped in the RWD jumped to more than 488.4 million.

In addition, the number of wells working full time in order to meet demand increases to seven. Although they cover the same amount of time, the third quarter sees more than a three-fold increase in water use as the first, a fact which is represented by the corresponding bills.

“While the increase in water pumped is to be expected during the summer, much of that water is wasted due to inefficient lawn watering practices,” said RWD Commissioner William Costigan. “Conservation is a must for all Roslyn Water District, as we must do what we can to protect the single-source aquifer which we share with all other Long Islanders. Ending wasteful irrigation practices would play a significant role in protecting our water source and it can be as easy as only watering your lawn every other day, watering in accordance to the RWD zone watering times and installing a smart irrigation controller.”

The best thing residents can do to help mitigate the issue of high third-quarter bills is to convert their automatic irrigation system from a standard irrigation timer to a smart irrigation controller.

These devices connect to WiFi and tap into local weather stations to automatically adjust schedules based on past, present and future forecasts. These easy-to-install devices ensure lawns receive the right amount of water they need in order to stay lush and green without the risk of overwatering.

In fact, most who make the switch to a smart irrigation controller see a savings of up to 30 percent. Given this technology’s effectiveness and availability, the RWD is requiring that all residents with an inground irrigation system make the switch from standard irrigation timers to smart controllers by 2025.

“With the amount of water that smart irrigation controllers can save during the warmer months of the year, it does not take long for them to pay for themselves,” said RWD Commissioner Sanford Klein. “We encourage all residents to discuss installing a smart controller with their irrigation contractors while having their backflow tested this fall. Not only are they great for our environment, but they help your wallet as well.”

District residents who have questions about their third-quarter bills can contact the Roslyn Water District office at 516-621-7770 or via email at [email protected].

Residents who would like continuous updates on all things Roslyn Water District can visit www.roslynwaterdistrict.org to sign up for the RWD email list, as well as follow the RWD on Facebook at www.facebook.com/RoslynWaterDistrict.

The Roslyn Water District provides water to the residents of the villages of Roslyn, Roslyn Estates, and East Hills, as well as portions of Roslyn Heights, Roslyn Harbor, Flower Hill, North Hills, Greenvale, Albertson, Glenwood Landing and Port Washington.