NASSAU COUNTY SELECTS CONSULTING FIRM FOR SEWER FEASIBILITY STUDY FOR HEMPSTEADHARBOR AND PORT WASHINGTON 

PictureLegis. DeRiggi-Whitton at press conference last July announcing the funding for the study.
June 4, 2015 – A sewer system for the North Shore communities of Glen Head, Glenwood Landing and Sea Cliff moved one step towards becoming a reality this past Monday, when the Nassau County legislature appointed the consulting firm Dvirka and Barilucci to conduct a feasiblity and design study for such a system to serve communities along the eastern shore of Hempstead Harbor.  The funding for the study was largely secured through the efforts of County Legislator Delia Deriggi-Whitton (LD 11), whose district encircles Hempstead Harbor from Glen Cove to Port Washington.   

While most residents of Glen Cove, Roslyn, and Port Washington are connected to a public sewer system, homes and businesses in other areas of Ms. Deriggi Whitton's district, including Sea Cliff, Glenwood Landing, Glen Head, Roslyn Harbor, sections of Glen Cove, Flower Hill, and Sands Point have their own cesspools or septic systems. Unsewered areas of Port Washington will also be included in the study.

“I am pleased that the County is moving forward with this important study," Legislator DeRiggi Whitton said.  "This study will give homeowners and sewer districts the tools to make appropriate decisions. I look forward to working with the Mayors to use the information determined by this study to protect the Harbor and aquifer.”

 “The outcome of this feasibility study is critical for Glen Cove and I appreciate the support of County Executive Mangano and our local legislators who have responded to my request for assistance in our City,” said Mayor Reggie Spinello. Mayor Spinello and the Glen Cove City County have already approved legislation towards identifying compromised septic systems that may be contributing to water quality issues at Crescent Beach for the past six years. The Mayor is optimistic that this plan if successful will allow the City to re-open Crescent Beach in the near future. “Sewers are the only real solution to the problems that have plagued the Crescent Beach area for so long,” added Mayor Spinello.

 This sewage management situation came to light in the North Shore area when contamination in a stream at Glen Cove’s Crescent Beach caused the beach and shell fishing in the area to be closed due to compromised cesspools in the surrounding community.

 Though 90% of Nassau County has public sewer systems, the North Shore with its extensive water access is the ten percent that isn’t connected and nearly 70% of the North Shore community uses septic systems and cesspools. Due to high ground water levels, poorly designed septic systems, and changes in ground water movement, untreated water containing both bacteria and nitrogen often runs off or seeps into North Shore bays and the aquifer.  

 The three North Shore Protection Committees; Hempstead Harbor, Manhasset Bay and Oyster Bay/ Cold Spring Harbor along with Friends of the Bay are partners in the CESSPOOL (Coordinated Environmental Solutions to Septic Problems Occurring On Long Island) program. This program seeks to educate homeowners on best management practices for their home systems. Hempstead Harbor Committee Executive Director Eric Swenson said, “This is exciting news. The County study will give the CESSPOOL program and our Committee some solid data to work with.”


BACK TO WEEKLY