Aug 17, 2011 12:39 PM
Stony Brook University Christopher Gobler discusses wastewater algal blooms in western Shinnecock Bay. LAURA COOPER PHOTOS
Swimming in Shinnecock Bay could be dangerous, following a weekend of heavy rain, a Suffolk County Department of Health official warned on Monday night.
After a weekend marked by torrential rain that soaked much of the East End, Environmental Quality Director Walter Dawydiak warned Hampton Bays residents not to swim in Shinnecock Bay for the next few days until the bay completes two tide cycles.
The water, he said, could be full of pathogens that run from stormwater drains on roadways, directly into the bay. These pathogens have the potential to make those who bathe in the water sick.
As one of the 60 people who packed the Southampton Town Senior Center in Hampton Bays for a Hampton Bays Civic Association environmental forum—dubbed “Can Shinnecock Bay Be Saved?”—later pointed out, the fact that... more
After a weekend marked by torrential rain that soaked much of the East End, Environmental Quality Director Walter Dawydiak warned Hampton Bays residents not to swim in Shinnecock Bay for the next few days until the bay completes two tide cycles.
The water, he said, could be full of pathogens that run from stormwater drains on roadways, directly into the bay. These pathogens have the potential to make those who bathe in the water sick.
As one of the 60 people who packed the Southampton Town Senior Center in Hampton Bays for a Hampton Bays Civic Association environmental forum—dubbed “Can Shinnecock Bay Be Saved?”—later pointed out, the fact that... more
No matter where you live, the New 2011 EPA Regulations say that even a slow drain in your leach field or elevated Nitrate levels could require replacement of your entire system ...more for $10,000 to $50,000 or connect to city sewer and fluoridated city water.
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UN Agenda 21 (Sustainable Development) - US Clean Water Act - EPA TMDL (Nitrate Limits)
All humans should leave the east end. we can have the squirrels, gophers,birds, and all wild life trained, at the taxpayers expense of course, to use septic treatment.
Also, did the reporter not understand that a "leaching pool" is what all of us have out here already to treat our sewage? It's not something to be added on at extra expense to "lower the amount of nitrogen released". Everybody has them now. Jeesh...
A sewer system not only would raise taxes astronomically, but it would create enormous pressure from real estate interests to develop areas of fragile water front and wetland that have not been buildable before due to potential sewage leakage problems. Do we want that?
What Chris Gobler or Kevin McAllister never mention when they speak is the amount of phosphrous from both commercial and home fertilizers that gets into our waters from fertilizers. It may get diluted in the bays, but it stays in our lakes and ponds and creates big problems with algae growth.
While you are correct with regards to Phosphorous (and its source), it is not a limiting nutrient in marine systems (only in freshwater systems - more limiting in fact than nitrogen). As such, Gobler and the Bay Keeper don't give it much play because their focus is on our marine systems which help drive our economy and are big for the fishing industry (much more so than freshwater systems on the east end). Until ...more our culture changes and we do not associate green laws with wealth and success, fertilizers will continue to be used in incredible quantities.
You say "new systems can be mandated" - they are mandated for all new construction and for properties that are doing extensive rehabs, new systems are required (with room for 50% expansion). But those requirements don't solve any problems. And the biggest problem is that the cumulative impact of new construction and new homes is never looked at - they are only viewed on an invidivual basis.
If you think that a house that's a block away from the water and doesn't require conservation board or DEC permits won't have an impact on the bay and our groundwater - you're wrong there too. The Town is trying to implement a system that would upgrade private sanitary systems - but that isn't the solution (I don't agree with the proposed legislation, especially the miniscule fines). The solution is a building moratorium, an in-depth study of the associated watersheds throughout the town and sewer systems (which creates their own problems). None of that will happen because the cost is prohibitive.
New 2011 EPA mandates say that even a slow drain in your leach field or elevated Nitrate levels could require replacement of your entire system for $10,000 to $50,000 or connect to the city sewer and fluoridated city ...more water.
500+ Septic, Well and Water News - Twitter MillerPlanteInc