The Times… Are They A-Changing?
by Nicholas Bryan
In our last issue, I wrote an article about nitrogen pollution in Accabonac Harbor, citing the negative effects of nitrogen on that magnificent body of water. Excessive nitrogen, introduced by our septic systems and surface runoff, overstimulates aquatic plants and algae and, in turn, uses up dissolved oxygen as plants decompose and block light to deeper waters. Unsightly algae scum (rife last summer on Pussy’s Pond and other areas of the creek) can grow and decrease animal and plant diversity.
Happily, we are beginning to see a serious effort by local and state governments to address the effects of excessive nitrogen on our harbor and other waterbodies. Governor Cuomo referenced this issue in his coastal resilience and water quality task force report. Suffolk County has addressed the issue in its comprehensive water resources management plan. In April, the County, as part of its Septic Demonstration Program, will install next generation alternative technology wastewater systems free of charge to 19 homes up-Island. It will maintain and evaluate these systems over the next five years. Within six months, the County will approve some or all of these systems for use in existing homes.
According to County personnel, these advanced systems remove about 50% of nitrogen, nearly twice the amount properly functioning conventional septic systems remove. Bob DeLuca, of Group for the East End, states that there is “a fairly minimal reduction in nitrogen (other than dilution) in conventional systems.” Clearly, the systems currently being used are inadequate for the purposes of saving Accabonac Harbor from the destructive effects of nitrogen.
Unfortunately, the advanced systems being tested by the County currently cost about $15,000 fully installed, with an annual maintenance cost of $200-400. If several of these systems receive approval from the Suffolk County Department of Health Services, market competition may help to lower installation costs for homeowners.
Fortunately, our elected officials are aware of the hardship such an expense would create for many homeowners who choose to install an advanced system. As recently reported in the east Hampton star by Joanne Pilgrim, “Town supervisors and village mayors from across the East End are proposing a regional initiative to address the increased pollution of surface and groundwaters by the nitrogen released from cesspools and septic systems.” They are advocating the creation of a $100 million state fund for financial assistance to homeowners for installing advanced technology systems. The fund may provide a combination of $5000 rebates and interest-free loans. The program could be funded from New York’s share of a $125 billion national mortgage settlement, money to be paid by banks found to have acted improperly in mortgage servicing and foreclosures.
The article also quotes Kevin MacAllister, former Peconic Baykeeper and founder of Defend H20, as saying “local municipalities can and should enact standards for septic systems that are more stringent than those upheld” by Suffolk’s Health Department.
According to the East Hampton Town Wastewater Management Plan, it is necessary to have regular monitoring of the nitrogen levels in the harbor in order to determine how much nitrogen it can accommodate. We hope that installation of advanced technology wastewater systems in the Accabonac Harbor Protection Overlay District will play a significant part in reducing nitrogen pollution to an acceptable level.
Let’s applaud the efforts of our local officials in the role they are playing in helping us protect Accabonac Harbor … even as we urge them to continue the work necessary to achieve this goal.
