Letters

A letter published last week advocated the exclusive pursuit of a single large sewer plant for Southampton Village as our only option [“Choose One Site,” Letters, June 12]. This is a mischaracterization of available options and a disservice to village residents, in terms of time, cost and efficiency.

There are no “20 sites,” and the entire village business district, and certainly not Town Hall, need to be included in the sewer district. What is needed is a single site for a small package plant servicing the limited area that is a health issue and pollution source.

The core of a previously suggested option by the Planning Commission advocated an 80,000-to-90,000-gallons-per-day package plant, a size well within the capabilities of compact, modular systems designed for efficiency and a minimal footprint. This plant could be strategically located either near the Southampton Village Police Department or on the property between the Burger King and the cemetery, both of which are viable sites for such a facility.

This targeted approach is specifically designed to tackle the most pressing issue: the highly charged commercial waste originating from the low-lying areas of Jobs Lane and Windmill Lane. These areas are particularly vulnerable due to their high water table, which severely compromises the effectiveness of existing onsite wastewater treatment systems, leading to improperly treated waste directly impacting Lake Agawam. Commercial businesses in the low-lying village business district are known to contribute the largest portion of the nitrogen pollution to the lake.

In contrast, the village’s current pursuit of a much larger 200,000-plus-GPD centralized plant to service a broader area will invariably continue to face significant opposition from residents. This is due to the impracticality of finding a site suitable for such a large sewage plant in one of the most expensive residential areas in the county. This larger, more generalized project is perceived by many as a “pie-in-the-sky” solution, lacking the direct, immediate impact needed for the most critical pollution hot-spots.

Once this smaller, focused wastewater package system is installed and the main source of pollution — particularly the grease and commercial waste from the low-lying areas — is effectively alleviated, Lake Agawam can then undergo dredging. This crucial final step, along with other restoration efforts, will enable the lake to be brought back closer to its original and natural state and beauty, restoring its ecological health and recreational value for the community.

Contrary to last week’s letter, those asking us to consider such an alternative are not attempting to “derail by misinformation.” They are telling residents the truth about better alternatives that have not been publicly vetted.

Let’s consider sensible practical alternatives in scale with our village focusing on solution to the real health and pollution problem.

Marc Andre Chiffert

Southampton Village

Chiffert is a licensed professional engineer in New York, Connecticut and Puerto Rico, and a former chairperson of the Southampton Village Planning Commission (three years) and former member (12 years) — Ed.