Paddle Gatherings & Reminders on the Drought
For us here on the East End, summer is all about getting outside, enjoying our beautiful waterways, and caring for this place we call home. This month, we are celebrating an incredible Paddle & Pick Up event and sharing important updates on how we can all help conserve water during Suffolk County’s ongoing severe drought. Together, every paddle stroke and every drop of water saved makes a big difference.
Here’s the latest…
Thank You for Making our 2nd Annual Paddle & Pick Up a Success!
A heartfelt thank you to everyone who joined us for our 2nd Annual Paddle & Pick Up on June 27th! Thanks to your enthusiasm, participation and generous donations, the event was a tremendous success. We appreciate you!
With your support, the Accabonac Protection Committee continues to raise critical funds sustain ongoing efforts to preserve the waters of Accabonac Harbor. If you weren’t able to join us for this event but would still like to contribute, your donation still matters (a lot!).
Beyond helping to care for our waterways in this recent paddle, we spent a wonderful day on the water, connecting with neighbors, and enjoying the natural beauty that makes Accabonac Harbor so special. The response was so overwhelmingly positive that we’re already talking about organizing regular casual paddles asan opportunity to gather, explore the harbor, and enjoy spending time together on the water.
Interested in joining? We’d love to have you! Simply send us an email with your name and phone number, and we’ll be sure to include you in future paddle invitations.
Severe Drought Conditions Continue Across Suffolk County
Did you know every drop of water Long Islanders use for drinking, cooking, bathing, watering lawns, and everyday living comes from the groundwater stored in the sand and gravel aquifers beneath our feet?
Although we’ve seen some dramatic rainfall recently, Suffolk County remains in severe drought. Recent storms provided only a top level respite and have done little to replenish our groundwater supply.
As members of a community that values and protects the local environment, the Accabonac Protection Committee asks you to help conserve our aquifers by reducing water use wherever possible.
“It is exceptionally early in the summer season to experience severe drought and near-record water demand,” says Charlie Lefkowitz, Chairman of the Suffolk County Water Authority. “Without immediate reductions in water use, pressure drops will occur, compromising emergency fire response.”
Complicating matters further is the fact that two water authority wells in East Hampton were recently taken offline after ‘forever chemicals’ were discovered in them. Those two wells provide 8% of production in what the water authority refers to as its ‘pressure zone’. We need everyone to take matters into their own hands.
Lawn Irrigation Makes the Biggest Difference
The biggest issue during a drought is lawn care. Irrigation for lawns and landscaping are responsible for the most of the excessive water consumption – including golf courses – on Long Island. The Suffolk County Water Authority is asking that we only water our lawns on odd/even days according to house number. If your address ends in an odd number, only water on odd-numbered days. If it ends in an even number, only water on even-numbered days.
We, at APC, want to take this one step beyond these guidelines and suggest that you don’t even need to water your lawn, if at all possible. If you want to know more about why this matters, check out: Why It Matters
In addition, SCWA asks to restrict watering of lawns between the hours of 10AM – 4PM. With severe drought comes an increased wildfire risk. Anyone who’d driven down the stretch on Montauk Hwy. can see the trees decimated by the pine beetles and knows first-hand the reality of that risk. Heavy morning irrigation reduces water storage tank levels, which is a major threat to emergency fire response capabilities as well as puts pressure on our aquifers for the entire day.
A few additional tips on how you can reduce your consumption
of water can be found HERE.
Every Drop Counts
Long Island’s groundwater is a limited and irreplaceable resource. Conserving water, especially in this environment, helps protect our drinking water, supports emergency services, and reduces the environmental impacts of a potential prolonged drought, including increased wildfire risk and declining air quality.
We encourage everyone to do their part by following SCWA’s current watering restrictions, foregoing unnecessary irrigation wherever possible and looking for simple ways to reduce our individual water use each day. Small actions, taken together, make a meaningful difference.
For the latest updates and a detailed look at current drought conditions, visit the Suffolk County Drought Conditions website.
As always, the Accabonac Protection Committee will continue to keep our community informed as conditions evolve.
Stay informed: Follow us on Social Media!
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