Water

Written By Dawn Carroll

Protect Water from Contamination

Water is the very sustenance of life and a symbol of purification. But local water quality is degrading. Our ground and surface waters need protection. A combination of porous soils and shallow aquifers means our aquifers are vulnerable to contamination. High levels of nitrogen, contaminants of emerging concern (such as pharmaceuticals and personal care products), and PFOS/PFAS chemicals degrade the quality of our drinking water. Our aquifers are not only sources of drinking water, but flow horizontally to surface waters, impacting the marine health of our bays. Excess nitrogen compounds are a critical cause of algal blooms, which lower oxygen levels, create toxins, ultimately cause shellfish and fish kills, and decrease biodiversity throughout the whole ecosystem. Poor water quality will ultimately impact community character and vitality, which are especially relevant for our coastal and tourist economies.

Conserve Our Aquifers and Estuaries

Residents on the North Fork tend to use more water than the national average. All the water used, whether from private wells or public water supplies is pumped from underground aquifers that are fed by rain and snow melt. On the North Fork we are particularly vulnerable as we only have isolated, thin aquifers surrounded by saltwater. We tend to pump most in the dry months of summer, which both shrinks the aquifers and may cause saltwater intrusion, contaminating freshwater sources.

Regenerate Our Streams, Rivers, Bays, Sound, Ocean and Aquifer

Capturing rainwater does more than stop the contaminants from washing into surface waters. The water can recharge the aquifer, be diverted from a downspout to a rain garden, or retained in rain barrels or cisterns for future use.

 
Protect Water - Issues
Issue 1: Sanitary systems

Treatment of wastewater improves the quality of water as it recharges the aquifer. This can be done by:

• Connecting to a sewer district that treats to a tertiary level and recharges to ground, not surface waters.

• Creating smaller community treatment systems

• Upgrading onsite wastewater systems to an Innovative/Alternative Onsite Wastewater Treatment System I/A OWTS. These are now required by Suffolk County for new construction and major renovations.

• Installing nonproprietary, natural wastewater treatment systems

• Separating urine to both control nutrient loading and provide reuse of nutrients (in study phase)

Issue 2: Lawn Care

What goes on your lawn can seep into the aquifer. Reduce or, better yet, eliminate the use of fertilizer, herbicides, pesticides and fungicides.

Issue 3: Household Chemicals and Pharmaceuticals

To preserve the health of our ground water and the surrounding water bodies, we need to be mindful of the fact that what we put down our drains or onto our lawns ends up first in our drinking water and eventually in the Bay or Long Island Sound. Our wastewater contains all of the antibiotics, vitamins, steroids and everything else that we take on a regular basis. These all have an adverse impact on our aquatic plants and animals.

 

You can help! Here are some actions that you can take:

  • Apply for Suffolk County Department of Health Services/NYS grants to upgrade your onsite wastewater system. For more information and application, click here.

    Note: If you have block cesspools, this is considered a safety hazard, and your project may be fast tracked with the help of a certified installer.

  • Promote the installation of pilot demonstration projects.

 

Here are some helpful resources:

 

You can help! Here are some actions that you can take:

  • Leave at least 3 inches of grass when moving and reduce irrigation for stronger roots.

  • Raise your mower blade deck as high as possible

  • Swap in a mulching mower blade and let the clippings fall and become mulch

  • Don’t apply fertilizers and other chemicals when rain is forecast.

  • Use of fertilizer is banned in Suffolk County between November 1 and April 1.

  • Protect yourself from insects rather than spraying lawns with insecticide.

  • Look for USDA certified organic products to help manage pest issues.

 

Here are some helpful resources:

 

You can help! Here are some actions that you can take:

  • Choose cleansers that are certified by Green Seal or Ecologo, free of fragrance and ammonium compounds.

  • Avoid use of “forever” chemicals, such as Per-and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances (PFAS), which can cause serious health effects.

  • Avoid fabrics with stain/waterproof repellent coatings, such as Teflon, Scotchgard, Stainmaster, Polartec, or Gore-Tex will likely contain PFAS chemicals. They are found on pan coatings, fast-food wrappers, pizza boxes, some watch bands and even Oral-B glide floss.

  • Choose personal care products without “PTFE” or “FLUORO” Ingredients.

  • Check “performance” fabric specifications when purchasing furniture.

  • Dispose of products responsibly, never pour them into a toilet, sink, or street drain. Instead:

    • Bring pharmaceuticals to the Police Department or a participating pharmacy.

    • Check Stop Throwing Out Pollutants (S.T.O.P.) locations or your local transfer stations for “Hazardous Waste Days” where they accept cleaners, oils, paint thinners, etc.

    • Pick up pet waste which can be composted in a separate composting bin than your food scraps.

 

Here are some useful resources:

 

You can help! Here are some actions that you can take:

Outdoors:

  • Water used for lawn irrigation is our biggest challenge. The best ACTION is to maximize the use of native plants, minimize the size of lawns, and only irrigate for the establishment of vegetation. If irrigating, zone it for like needs and use smart meters.

  • Only water 1-2 times a week (maximum 1” of rain).

  • When using a hose use a nozzle that automatically stops the flow when not used.

  • Swimming pools can double a household’s water use. Use covers when not in use to stop evaporation.

Indoors:

  • Use EPA WaterSense fixtures, which can lower your indoor water use by at least 20%.

  • You can also conserve water by altering everyday habits, such as timing your shower to a maximum of 5 minutes or turning off the tap when brushing your teeth or shaving.

 

Here are some useful resources:

 

You can help! Here are some actions that you can take:

  • Install rain barrels or in ground cisterns. Check with the Peconic Estuary Program to see if you are eligible for a rebate.

 
Dawn Carroll
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