The New York State Assembly has unanimously passed the Suffolk County Water Quality Restoration Act, sponsored by Assemblyman Fred W. Thiele, Jr. (D-Sag Harbor) with a decisive vote of 147-0. This pivotal legislation aims to significantly enhance water quality across Suffolk County through a comprehensive overhaul of wastewater treatment infrastructure.
The Act proposes the creation of the Suffolk County Water Quality Restoration Fund, which would be financed by a modest .0125% increase in the county sales tax, set to expire in 2060. Additionally, 25% of the revenue from the existing Sewer Taxpayer Protection Fund will be allocated to this new fund. It is estimated that between $3-4 billion in new local funding will be generated, aimed at expanding wastewater treatment systems and replacing outdated cesspools and septic systems with advanced, nitrogen-removing technologies.
Under the legislation, 50% of the fund’s resources will be dedicated to expanding wastewater treatment facilities, and the other 50% will focus on upgrading individual septic systems to reduce nitrogen levels, a primary pollutant affecting water quality. The initiative aligns with the Suffolk County Subwatersheds Wastewater Plan (SWP), previously approved by Suffolk County and certified by the Department of Environmental Conservation, which outlines a 50-year strategy to improve the county’s wastewater infrastructure across 191 subwatersheds.
This legislative measure also grants Suffolk County the authority to establish a county-wide wastewater management district, promoting a more integrated and equitable approach to wastewater management across the region.
Assemblyman Thiele highlighted the significance of this act, comparing its importance to the Pine Barrens Protection Act of 1993, which safeguarded 100,000 acres of land and vital groundwater recharge areas. “Despite those efforts, Long Island’s water quality has continued to deteriorate due to the impacts of legacy development,” Thiele said. ” The Suffolk County Water Quality Restoration Act will complement the Pine Barrens Act by providing the resources to remediate existing wastewater treatment infrastructure to finally reverse this trend and clean up our bays, creeks, and groundwater.”
The bill now advances to the State Senate and must also receive approval from the governor. If passed, it will be enacted into local law by the Suffolk County Legislature and presented to voters in Suffolk County for a mandatory referendum this November.