Stop groundwater contamination at the source
As emerging contaminants and sources of pollution in Long Island’s groundwater continue to be identified, the need for action to protect and clean up drinking water supplies is stronger than ever. Within the past several years, the Suffolk County Department of Health Services and the NYS Department of Environmental Conservation have documented significant groundwater contamination and risks of contamination associated with activities at sand mines and vegetative waste processing facilities. Now, we are urging local governments to act and establish local laws that will improve groundwater monitoring and hold these facilities accountable.
Elected officials have already taken action in response to this emerging contamination source. Last year, Assemblyman Fred Thiele and Senator Ken LaValle passed legislation signed by Governor Andrew Cuomo that will now allow local governments to impose groundwater monitoring requirements on state-regulated sand mines and mine reclamation. This is a crucial step in the right direction as contamination from facilities, like the “Sand Land” mine in Southampton, have raised significant public health and environmental concerns.
As part of the Long Island Clean Water Partnership founding members’ ongoing work to protect and restore the health of our ground and surface waters, we are urging local governments across the East End of Long Island to adopt and enforce local laws that would that would require monitoring of groundwater quality beneath active mines or mine reclamation activities.
It is our drinking water, environment, and health at risk. Residents in the towns of East Hampton and Southampton can help by asking their elected town boards to establish these laws to protect their health and the environment. These actions will inspire other towns across Long Island to take notice and take action with other facilities contributing to similar contamination. Join the Long Island Clean Water Partnership today!