Public Water … What Will It Mean to Accabonac Harbor?
by Nicholas Bryan
Members of the Accabonac Protection Committee are concerned about the installation of public water in Springs and the effects it could have on Accabonac Harbor. While we understand the need for public water at Springs School, at our recently approved Community Center and in locations (such as Gerard Drive) that suffer saltwater intrusion, we believe the extension of this service to other locations within Springs should be approached with caution.
In the December 7 issue of The East Hampton Star, in a front-page article headlined “Public Water Moving into Springs,” Town planning consultant Lisa Liquori articulates many of our concerns. As she points out, the availability of public water can lead to a number of negative consequences, including the following:
• Population density in the already crowded Springs could increase if new dwellings with public water do not require the spacing now mandated between wells and septic systems. Ms. Liquori points out that the County Health Department currently requires new lots in the Springs to be a minimum of one acre, to provide sufficient space between private wells and septic systems. With public water, half-acre lots could be created.
• Chlorinated public water might have a negative impact on bays, harbors and human health. Because Springs homes have septic systems, a lot of additional water, water that will not be removed by sewers, will be going into our already saturated filtration system and will probably have a negative impact on Accabonac Harbor.
• I nformed citizens understand that substances they use on their lawns and in their drains can directly affect their own drinking water. With public water, residents may be less cautious about using toxic chemicals, and those chemicals would negatively impact the harbor.
The East Hampton Town Comprehensive Plan incorporates the Water Resources Management Plan Recommendations that wisely call for an environmental impact study and a public scoping session prior to extending public water mains throughout Springs. The APC urges all residents to insist that these precautions be implemented promptly, prior to the delivery of public water to Springs.
