Welcome to Accabonac Harbor Watershed

Below is the letter that APC mailed to all owners of property in the Accabonac Harbor Watershed.

As APC Founder Cile Downs noted ” the APC is about education, getting people active in the environment we have.” Please share this letter with your friends and neighbors. If anyone is searching for a primer to life in Bonac, this could be just what they are looking for.

Take good care. Hope to see you around the Harbor!

Dear Neighbors,

We are the Accabonac Protection Committee, a group of about 400 environmentally aware individuals with a hyper local focus on the special place called Accabonac Harbor.

The APC, founded in 1985, is committed to protecting the diverse ecological integrity of Accabonac Harbor, often through education, outreach and special projects.

You have been chosen to receive this letter because you are fortunate to live within the Accabonac Watershed.

THE ACCABONAC WATERSHED

All of the water that originates from your property, from the plumbing in your home, rainwater and irrigation draining from your property, flows into the ground (groundwater). Since your property is in the Accabonac Watershed, this groundwater flows into Accabonac Harbor or into the aquifers deeper in the ground from which we get our drinking water.

OUR DRINKING WATER

ALL of our drinking water, whether from private wells on our own property or public water coming from Suffolk County Water Authority, comes from the earth beneath our feet.

SCWA routinely tests for dangerous contaminants. However, if your drinking water is “well water”, sourced from a private well on your property, assuring the safety of your drinking water rests with you.

Many contaminants have been found in private wells in the Accabonac Watershed, including lead and other heavy metals, nitrates, fecal bacteria, fuel oil, gasoline additives, pharmaceuticals and a number of volatile organic compounds. So, if your drinking water comes from a well on your property, please have your water tested regularly.

Suffolk County Department of Health Sciences will test your well water for a fee of $100. For information call 631-852-5810.

Bet you can see that what you do on your property really matters for the quality of both our drinking water and that of Accabonac Harbor.

See you around the harbor!

Best Regards,
Patree Datton

WHAT YOU CAN DO TO PROTECT WATER QUALITY – IT’S ALL ABOUT THE GROUNDWATER.

PESTICIDES:

Take steps to protect yourself from ticks and mosquitoes. But please do not spray the ground with chemicals. Remember, anything you put on the ground will get into our groundwater.

YOUR YARD AND GARDEN:

Be careful with fertilizer, it is primarily nitrogen: Too much nitrogen in the water stimulates the growth of certain algae, producing toxins which can be dangerous to humans and dogs and lethal to fish and shellfish. Nitrogen also causes growth of other algae and seaweed which can blanket areas of the harbor. Normal marine bacteria work to decompose algae and seaweed after these plants die, using oxygen in the water. No oxygen – dead fish floating!

Use irrigation systems sparingly. Excess watering leads to run off from your property and any chemicals you may have applied will be in the runoff that into the watershed.

Plant trees and bushes on your property – the root systems filter contaminants beneath the ground. Native plants often are best since once established, no fuss (fertilizer, irrigation) required.

See the beauty and value of a “not perfect lawn” Herbicides, pesticides and fertilizers, as well as irrigation are not required, and pollinators will love it too!

DRAINS AND SANITARY SYSTEMS:

Remember, we do not have a public sewer system! All wastewater from your home goes into the groundwater flowing into Accabonac Harbor.

The largest source of nitrogen in the watershed is from our septic and cesspools. Consider replacing your conventional sanitary septic with a low nitrogen (Innovative/Alternative) system. Information regarding the environmental benefits and financial incentives is available on the Town of East Hampton website https://ehamptonny.gov/587/Details-and-Forms and Suffolk County’s Reclaim Our Water website www.reclaimourwater.info.

Unused pharmaceuticals and toxic chemicals must not be poured down any drain-in your home or storm water drains.

Bring your unused pharmaceuticals for disposal to: East Hampton Town Police Headquarters:
131 Wainscott N.W. Rd. (631-537-7575)
White’s Apothecary:
81 Main St., East Hampton.

The Town also has two scheduled STOP days (Stop Throwing Our Pollutants). On these dates you can dispose of pollutants such as pesticides, degreasers, swimming pool chemicals, solvents, weed killers and the like. These items are not accepted at the Recycling Center, so please hold on to them until the STOP dates.

EAST HAMPTON RECYCLING CENTER: JUNE 26, 2021, 9-2PM
MONTAUK RECYCLING CENTER: NOVEMBER 6, 2021, 9-2PM

HOW LUCKY WE ARE TO ENJOY THE BEAUTY AND BOUNTY OF ACCABONAC HARBOR

Let us share in the responsibility of living in the Accabonac Watershed by doing simple things which will preserve and protect this unique and beautiful water body which the NYS Department of Environmental Conservation has designated a Critical Environmental Area.

And remember-Protect your and your family’s health. Have your well water tested regularly.

Protection of Accabonac Harbor and our drinking water IS UP TO US!

Please join our email list. It’s free and you will be included on our newsletters and educational forums announcements. Visit our website accabonac.org to sign up.