New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) Commissioner Basil Seggos and Environmental Facilities Corporation (EFC) Acting President Maureen Coleman today announced that the Springs Union Free School District has completed the construction of an innovative on-site wastewater treatment system that helps reduce nitrogen in the environment and protects vital Long Island watersheds.

“Long Island’s quality of life is directly tied to the health of its waterbodies and that is why New York State has invested significant funding and support to improve and protect the region’s waters,” said Commissioner Seggos. “Clean water for drinking, swimming, boating, fishing, and more is vital to the economic success of this region and by upgrading its wastewater treatment system, the Springs Union Free School District took an important step in protecting local water quality and creating a healthier future for its students and surrounding community.”

“Governor Cuomo’s commitment to New York’s water quality has been demonstrated time and time again.” said EFC’s Acting President Coleman.  “This funding to the School District builds upon the several millions made available to counties across the state for the replacement of cesspools and septic systems of homeowners and small businesses to reduce the environmental and public health impacts associated with the discharges from these systems.”

The new treatment system at 48 School Street in East Hampton is designed to fully replace the school district’s former wastewater system and accommodate the additional flow from a building expansion. New York State provided the Springs Union Free School District more than $1.3 million through the Clean Water Infrastructure Act of 2017, with the School District providing the balance toward the total project cost of $1.57 million.

The school is located in the town of East Hampton watershed protection district, a high priority area for reducing nitrogen discharged from on-site sanitary wastewater disposal systems. Replacing the existing disposal system at the school with an Alternative On-site Wastewater Treatment System and a nitrogen-reducing biofilter will reduce nitrogen discharges to area waterbodies by more than 80 percent. This decrease will help improve water quality in portions of the nearby Accabonac Harbor that are currently closed to shellfishing.

Superintendent Debra Winter said, “In order to be part of the solution for clean water, the Springs Board of Education insisted that the district replace the old septic system with a nitrogen reducing wastewater treatment system. Springs School is the largest business in our neighborhood and this system will be an integral part in providing strong protection for our waterways. We want to thank Governor Cuomo, Assemblyman Fred Thiele and Senator Ken LaValle for their support and making this grant a reality." 

Senator Ken LaValle said, “This state investment is another step in protecting our fragile waterways from nitrogen and emerging contaminants. This successful partnership between Springs School District, the DEC and the EFC is a model of how state and local entities can work together and achieve long-lasting environmental goals that will protect and preserve our region’s environment.”

Assemblyman Fred W. Thiele, Jr. said, "My thanks to the Governor, the DEC, and EFC for their assistance with this critical water quality improvement project. The Springs School's new innovative wastewater treatment system is on the cutting edge of technology which will reverse the trend of declining water quality impacting Long Island. Springs School Superintendent Debra Winter and the Springs School Board are to be congratulated for providing the leadership necessary to modernize the school and improve the water quality of the Accabonac Harbor. Working with Senator LaValle, I was honored to advocate for this critical infrastructure project. This is an example for schools across Long Island as we continue to upgrade our water quality infrastructure."  

Among the many actions and investments the State has taken to help reduce nitrogen in area waterways, Governor Cuomo launched a comprehensive $75 million program to improve water quality through the targeted replacement of aging septic systems in communities across New York. This rebate program was created to give homeowners and small businesses an incentive to replace and upgrade aging septic systems and is funded through the $3.5 billion made available for water quality protection across New York through the Clean Water Infrastructure Act, and $1 billion in subsequent budgets.

Along with key local partners, DEC also leads the Long Island Nitrogen Action Plan (LINAP), initiated by Governor Cuomo in 2015. More than 30 active LINAP initiatives and programs are currently underway and nitrogen reduction actions range from bioextraction, septic replacement, countywide watershed planning, habitat restoration, and sewering projects. To date, over $863 million has been spent on 186 projects in Suffolk and Nassau counties, not including a number of large-scale projects in southern Long Island. To learn more about LINAP, visit the DEC web site at: https://www.dec.ny.gov/lands/103654.html.