A long-awaited wastewater plan released this week will help Suffolk County transition away from its reliance on traditional cesspools and septic systems. It’s an attempt by the county to reduce the amount of nitrogen that’s leaked into the environment.
Cesspools and septic systems are responsible for a large part of the nitrogen pollution on Long Island. Nitrogen creates dangerous algal blooms that lead to fish kills and have contributed to the collapse of Suffolk County’s multimillion-dollar clam industry.
County health officials plan to complete a first-of-its-kind scientific study to identify Suffolk’s nearly 200 watershed areas. They’ll also make recommendations on reducing nitrogen pollutants into each area.
Their plan also established priority areas where the replacement of cesspools and septic systems with state-of-the-art nitrogen filtering septic systems will have the quickest impact.
Officials say the downward trend of the county’s water quality will be reversed within 10 years…if all goes according to plan.