At the urging of environmental groups, Nassau County, N.Y. in late June announced it had reached terms on a 20-year management contract with United Water to operate its three sewage treatment plants and collection system at a first-year cost of $57.4 million.

This is the contract operation industry’s first major long-term O&M assignment for an urban wastewater system in years. If approved by the Nassau County Legislature and the county’s fiscal watchdog, the contract with the Nassau County Sewer and Storm Water Finance Authority will be signed in a month or so.