"What's that Noise?!"

Great Neck Water Pollution Control District is undergoing some major and important changes over the next few years. As you drive by the currently active and busy plant on East Shore Road you may be asking yourself "What's that Noise!?" coming from there?

Before we can answer that question, a process known as "Pile Driving" should be explained as this is where the noise is coming from.

"OK, So what is Pile Driving then?"

The definition of Pile Driving is "The Act of Driving Piles" into the ground.

Pile foundations are used to transfer the structural loads of a building when the soil conditions do not allow the use of a traditional foundation, as your house may have.  These piles, in our case large steel pipes, are driven into the ground until enough resistance is achieved to hold the required weight.  The machine that drives the piles into the ground is called a Pile Driver.

"What does this Pile Driver look like?"

Pile Driving is performed by using a powerful piece of construction equipment that is appropriately called a pile driver.

The pile driver is not by any means, a small and easy to use device, in fact it can be quite large in height and heavy in weight due to the size of the piles it has to be able to drive into the ground.

Here is a picture of one of the pile drivers used at our facility presently. 

"But that still doesn't answer, What's that noise?"

There are two distinct noises that are generated by the pile driver.  The first is the combustion in the diesel hammer’s cylinder (similar to a piston in a diesel engine).  The second is the sound of the hammer impacting the steel pipe or pile.  This process repeats continuously until the pile is driven to the required resistance point. 

Getting so many piles to go deep into the ground takes a huge amount of force and while it may be loud at times, this process is necessary in order to build these structures in a way that will ensure they are sound and secure for years to come.

See for yourself just what the process looks and sounds like up close, from some footage taken of the actual Pile Driver at work here at the District.

"How long will this noise be heard for and at what times?"

The normal construction hours are 7AM - 3PM, however due to the increase noise level of pile driving, these activities do not start until 8AM and conclude at 4PM.

We have devoted a special space to our site to keep everyone informed on what part of the pile driving will be occurring on the given week and updating as it's completed via map sections of the project.

Piling Schedule for Upgrade Project at the District

"How long will the piling process occur?"

The plant itself is scheduled to be in full compliance with the new NYSDEC guidelines by 2014 with the construction of said plant done in 2013. But the piling will cease well before then due to the piles having to be in place before said strutures over those piled areas can be constructed. We will keep the public well informed of the schedule of said pilings so you will know when that vital part of the construction process is completed.

"You answered my questions on the noise, but I still have more questions of the project and noise. Can I talk to someone about this?"

Our biggest goal is to make this process as easy to experience as possible for the residents we proudly serve.

After reading through this section, if you still have concerns or questions about the "Piling Process" or any other noise or construction related issues that are ongoing at the District Facilities, you are welcome to contact us for furhter assistance.

To contact us, please call during our hours of operation which are from 8:00 AM - 4:00 PM -
Monday - Friday at (516) 482-0238 and someone will be glad to assist you further with your inquiry.

You can also send an email to the District any time day or night at info@gnwpcd.net for assistance to your inquiries.

We hope that this cleared up why you may hear a loud noise from the District facilities during the construction period. Now when someone asks "What's that Noise?", you will know the answer and can direct them here if they need even further answers.

The District employees, commissioners and construction team members all thank everyone for their patience and understanding during this vital process of the construction. We know you will truly love the new facilities that will serve this area for a long time to come. Please, bare with us, the noise won't be much longer now.