Some 70% of Suffolk County properties and companies nonetheless depend on cesspools — however officers are planning to shell out tens of millions to plug these properties into the municipal sewer system.
County Govt Ed Romaine revealed plans to jumpstart a slew of tasks with $3.8 million this 12 months alone to modernize the sewer system, and finally recycle handled water to irrigate golf programs and different inexperienced areas.
“We’re addressing this crisis with sewer systems that don’t just pump wastewater out to the ocean or the Sound — but systems that actually treat it properly and help protect our aquifer,” Romaine informed The Put up.
The Republican defined that cesspools and septic tanks aren’t simply outdated — they’re harmful to Lengthy Islanders.
When waste sits underground for too lengthy, it may possibly seep into the soil and contaminate the aquifer beneath us, which is the place the county will get all of its ingesting water, and when that water will get tainted by human waste, it places your complete area’s well being and security in danger.
The brand new system, nonetheless, has no timetable to be accomplished and will take years.
Romaine is now hoping the state and federal authorities will pitch in for the tasks.
Suffolk hasn’t seen a dime from the $4.2 billion Clear Water, Clear Air, and Inexperienced Jobs Environmental Bond Act — a large state fund voters accepted again in 2022 to assist pay for precisely this sort of infrastructure, the chief stated.
Romaine additionally informed The Put up that Suffolk County has not acquired any cash the state was purported to allocate from former President Joe Biden’s $1 trillion infrastructure invoice.
“If we have to, we will do this by ourselves,” Romaine informed The Put up about the opportunity of receiving no state or federal funds.
“But it is a shame that the state would abandon Suffolk County in its time of need for environmental purposes,” he added.
Gov. Kathy Hochul’s workplace was not instantly out there for remark.
