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Suffolk County Govt Steve Bellone has joined Village of Westhampton Seaside Mayor Maria Moore for a celebratory “first flush” to announce the completion of the long-awaited venture connecting the Village’s Enterprise District to the County’s wastewater therapy plant at Frances S. Gabreski Airport. The sewer district connection will enable for the Westhampton Seaside enterprise district to proceed to broaden and appeal to new enterprise. The connection works to guard each the standard of water, by stopping nitrogen from getting into the groundwater, and downtown vibrancy.  

“The connection of this enterprise district to a contemporary wastewater therapy plant is a win-win that may shield water high quality and hold Westhampton Seaside’s economic system transferring ahead,” stated Suffolk County Govt Bellone. “That is excellent instance of how native governments can work cooperatively to share providers and save taxpayer {dollars}.”   

Westhampton Seaside Village Mayor Maria Moore stated: “Due to the beneficiant help from New York State, Suffolk County and Southampton City we had been capable of full this venture with out elevating taxes.” The venture, which value roughly $16 million was funded largely by a mixture of state {dollars} via the Division of Environmental Conservation and Environmental Amenities Company, Suffolk County, and Southampton City Neighborhood Preservation Fund {dollars}, with the the rest coming from the Village surplus. “That is a primary instance of what will be achieved via cross-sector collaboration and dedication,” stated Mayor Moore.  

 A research supplied to the Village by Stony Brook scientist Christopher Gobler within the venture’s preliminary planning phases laid out the enhanced environmental professionaltections and improved water high quality that might ensue. In keeping with the Gobler report, the system will scale back the nitrogen content material into the bay by 5,000 kilos a 12 months representing a 24% lower.   

In 2018, County Govt Bellone signed laws to authorize an settlement with the Village of Westhampton Seaside to attach its enterprise district and two condominium complexes to the County’s wastewater therapy plant situated at Frances S. Gabreski Airport.   

Westhampton Seaside officers thought-about constructing a brand new sewage therapy plant within the Village, however in the end determined that it might be too costly to take action. A Village sewer guide had estimated that the Village will save about $7.4 million by contributing in the direction of an enlargement of the County’s therapy plant, often known as Suffolk County Sewer District 24, which at present serves Gabreski Airport, the Air Nationwide Guard base and the businesses situated within the Hampton Enterprise District.   

The County’s therapy plant at Gabreski Airport required modifications so as to accommodate the extra sewage from Westhampton Seaside. The sewage therapy plant used the connection payment of $1.8 million from the Village to offset the price of the modifications which elevated the plant’s capability by 50 p.c.  

“The venture will even present a lift to the native economic system, attracting new companies and supporting present ones. Persons are already displaying confidence in the neighborhood by constructing and renovating their present infrastructure,” stated Mayor Moore. “With a brand new boutique resort taking on an outdated financial institution constructing and expanded eating experiences, it has vastly enhanced the aesthetic attraction of the realm making it extra engaging to residents, companies and guests.”   

Assemblyman Fred W. Thiele, Jr. stated: “Due to the state and native authorities cooperation, we’ve got taken one other main step to enhance water high quality on the East Finish. Congratulations to the Village of Westhampton Seaside for finishing the connection of downtown and different environmentally delicate elements of Westhampton Seaside to the Suffolk County Gabreski Sewer Remedy Plant. New York State contributed $6.8 million to help the connection to the Gabreski plant, together with $5 million from the Division of Environmental Conservation Water High quality Enchancment Program. The City additionally supplied over $4 million from the Neighborhood Preservation Fund to the Village to finance the development of the wastewater assortment and conveyance infrastructure. The end result will likely be a win for the surroundings and the economic system. Water high quality will likely be improved with lowered nitrogen air pollution and native companies will be capable to attain their full potential.” 

Suffolk County Legislator Bridget Fleming stated: “Mayor Maria Moore and the Village Trustees have demonstrated precisely easy methods to stability environmental wants with sensible development that revitalizes downtown Westhampton Seaside and reduces nitrogen air pollution as much as 24%. Because of our intermunicipal partnership, new drainage and infrastructure enhancements have reworked Westhampton Seaside right into a vibrant neighborhood location that may assist develop the east finish economic system and bolster Suffolk County’s clear water efforts. I applaud Mayor Moore and the Village Trustees for his or her extraordinary management and thank County Govt Steve Bellone and the Suffolk County Division of Well being Companies for his or her professionalism in engaging in this necessary milestone.” 

Southampton Supervisor Jay Schneiderman stated: “Accountable improvement and stopping water air pollution from getting old septic tanks are two crucial points for the East Finish. Sewer methods and wastewater therapy are an necessary solution to obtain each. This infrastructure venture will assist diversify and develop the Village’s economic system, whereas defending our sole supply aquifer.” 

Division of Environmental Conservation (DEC) Commissioner Basil Seggos stated: “The Lengthy Island Nitrogen Motion Plan is a crucial partnership that helps advance vital State investments in revolutionary tasks which can be decreasing nitrogen air pollution and restoring Lengthy Island’s waters. DEC is happy to be a associate in tasks underway in Westhampton Seaside, serving to join the sewer system between Suffolk County and the village of Westhampton Seaside, which is able to forestall water impairments and considerably enhance water high quality for generations to come back.” 

New York State Environmental Amenities Company President & CEO Maureen A. Coleman stated: “EFC at the moment celebrates with the Village of Westhampton Seaside and Suffolk County on this necessary milestone for a crucial venture that may scale back nitrogen air pollution and enhance water high quality within the bay. New York State’s vital funding and ongoing partnership with the village and county to undertake this crucial wastewater therapy improve is consultant of the constructive, tangible outcomes for folks and communities that end result when authorities works collectively.” 

Advancing Suffolk County’s wastewater infrastructure and decreasing nitrogen air pollution within the County’s waterways is a high precedence for County Govt Bellone. County Govt Bellone launched the Reclaim our Water initiative to scale back nitrogen air pollution of groundwater and floor waters from cesspools and septic methods via connection of communities to sewer methods and the set up of superior on-site wastewater therapy methods. Cesspools have been recognized as a major supply of nitrogen air pollution that has degraded water high quality all through Suffolk County, contributing to dangerous algae blooms, seaside closures and fish kills.