Measures approved by the state legislature to allow a public vote on a countywide sewer district and an eighth cent increase in Suffolk’s sales tax for private cesspool and sewer district improvements was put on hold by the county legislature. Proponents rallied ahead of the decision saying the measures are essential to protect the island’s water resources, while critics were wary over the plan’s emphasis on upgrading private cesspools over the construction of new sewers.
Legislators voted 10-6 along party lines with the Republicans in the majority to refer the bills back to the Budget and Finance Committee where they are not expected to emerge in time to put the issue to the voters in the November general election. If approved by referendum, the measures would consolidate Suffolk’s 27 sewer districts and provide funds to modernize the county’s wastewater infrastructure, a priority of Suffolk Executive Steve Bellone. The actions are part of a $4 billion long-term effort to keep nitrogen out of groundwater and the county’s creeks, rivers and bays.
"It was encouraging to see that all 47 speakers who testified, representing a broad and diverse group of stakeholders, testified in support of the Clean Water Plan," said Deputy County Executive Peter Scully. "Our success in getting the Forge River Watershed Sewer District project under construction shows that with persistence and adequate funding, we can make historic progress to protect and improve water quality."
“I think at the end we all agree we want clean water here,” said Kevin McCaffrey, the legislature’s presiding officer, who voted to refer the measures back to committee. “I don’t think I am doing my job as a legislator if I didn't push back and say I don't think this formula is correct.”
Another vote to table was Legislator Nick Caracappa who stressed that the legislation “doesn’t address what needs to be addressed. Sewers are the immediate response. Nitrogen into our waterways is a tremendous problem. The quickest way, the best way, to respond to those issues are to put sewers in the ground, not to have hundreds of millions of dollars sitting around resulting in residents requesting grants for IA systems when we can have people working, putting sewers in the ground addressing the immediate problem,” Caracappa said, adding, “That’s what I'm here for. Address the problem, put men and women to work in Suffolk county. Fixing our waterways and aquifer. I must put forward the best legislation for people to vote on.”
“I find this deeply disheartening,” said Legislator Bridget Flemming. “We heard four hours of testimony and there was only one voice in opposition. Every economic sector was heard from; the construction trades, regional economic development officers, a mayor, councilmen, laborers, scientists, every single person asked us to do this. I’m so confused and disheartened; we're being asked to act on state legislation.”
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Suffolk County Presiding Officer
Kevin McCaffrey File Photo
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“These resolutions target a critical problem,” noted John Turner, Senior Conservation Policy Advocate for the Seatuck Environmental Association. “Continuing an alarming degradation of our drinking water supply and coastal water resources due to sanitary waste and associated nitrogen is not wise. Both of those proposals are critical in advancing strategies to protect our resources. Not only is drinking water essential for life, it is essential for business growth and downtown development as well.”
The majority’s hesitance in supporting the measures based on their contention that environmental funding was misappropriated in the past was highlighted in an exchange between Legislator Robert Trotta and Robin Sylvester, director of Save the Great South Bay:
Trotta: In 2021 when they raided the clean water fund, why didn't you show up then?
Sylvester: I was not in the position I am in right now. Had I been, I would have been there.
Trotta: What about the other 27,000 people you represent? They took $2 million that could have been used for sewers.
Sylvester: What has happened in the past is inappropriate and illegal. We are on an island, at the point where we have to move forward.”
Trotta: Maybe you should advocate for the county executive to return the $200 million he stole to put it back in the water fund. That’s something I would vote for in a heartbeat.
Alysa Kiel, the Placemaking Director for Vision Long Island, referenced the economic side of the issue: “Sewers are critical for downtown revitalization. Many of our downtowns have legacy sewers that they have had for over 100 years. Those without sewers are severely limited in what they can do to revitalize. No new restaurants can come in, existing restaurants are limited to their seating capacity. These are the types of businesses that help drive business and foot traffic to the downtown area.”
Hurricane Sandy provided a huge influx of government funding to build new sewers in Suffolk with the Forge River system, a half-century on the drawing board, currently under construction, along with a project at Carl’s River. Scheduled for groundbreaking are sewers in Kings Park and Central Islip with Huntington Station slated for next year.
According to Bellone’s office, commitments for design funding have been made for the following projects:
Smithtown Business District
Centereach-Selden
Forge River Phase 3
Mastic Beach Revitalization Area
Port Jefferson Station Hub
Deer Park
Oakdale
Farmingville
Coram
Holbrook Main Street
Saint James Lake Avenue
West Babylon
Wyandanch
Projects in West Islip and Sayville are also on the drawing board.
A local illustration of the importance of sewer infrastructure can be seen with the massive effort to rebuild the Neighborhood Road Business District in Mastic Beach, a 47-acre project that would not be possible without sewers. The area is next on the drawing board after the Forge River project and is aimed at protecting a body of water that’s considered to be the most polluted in the state.