Long Island sewers

Voters in Suffolk County are one step closer to seeing a referendum on their ballot this November. The initiative would let residents decide on a tax hike to protect water quality.

Voters in Suffolk County will likely get to decide whether to raise sales taxes to fund a sweeping sewer expansion plan. The $4 billion project will expand the county’s sewer system and overhaul outdated septic tanks that cause nitrogen pollution — through an additional 0.125% sales tax.

Suffolk and Nassau county executives called for increased affordable housing, access to clean drinking water, and sewage expansion projects at the Hauppauge Industrial Association of Long Island’s (HIA-LI) 46th annual meeting.

Suffolk County Executive Steve Bellone said Lexington Village Condominium will be connected through a new sewage pump system near the complex. Suffolk County and the Town of Islip are each contributing $700,000 to the project.

Stony Brook University ecologist Chris Gobler completed his 2023 Assessment of Water Quality Impairments for Long Island. The map and report aims to provide a guideline for residents and policy makers by comparing water quality to the standards of federal and state regulators.

Environmentalists are concerned that time is running out to put a referendum on the November ballot about whether to use a sales tax hike to pay for water quality projects in Suffolk County.

The town of Islip has received a $3 million federal grant to build a new sewer connection that will allow for the development of restaurants, businesses and apartments.

Governor Lamont says Connecticut residents have benefited financially to the tune of $15 million by reducing energy use by 15%.