East Hampton Adopts Strictest Nitrogen Reduction Mandates In County

EAST HAMPTON, NY — Taking strides toward protecting the town's waterways, the East Hampton town board adopted legislation Tuesday requiring all new home construction and new commercial development to use Suffolk County’s new low-nitrogen waste systems.

Effective January 1, 2018, new construction and substantial expansion of existing residential and commercial buildings will be required to install the new onsite waste treatment systems, a release from East Hampton Town Supervisor Larry Cantwell said.

In addition, the town board adopted legislation to establish incentives for property owners to replace outdated or aging septic systems with low nitrogen alternatives — offering a rebate of up to $16,000 for all property owners.

Funding for the rebates will come from the Community Preservation Fund, which will generate an estimated $150 million for water quality improvements in East Hampton over the next 30 years, according to the town.

CPF revenue can be dedicated to water quality improvements after the measure was approved by 78 percent in a voter referendum this past November.

“Protecting water quality is our highest priority because our quality of life and economy depend on safe drinking water and pristine surface water,” Cantwell said.

“The town board has adopted the highest standard for water quality protection, and the rebate program should encourage property owners to replace failing waste systems with low-nitrogen alternatives,” said Deputy Supervisor Peter Van Scoyoc.

Applications for the rebate program, which will be coordinated with Suffolk County’s grant program, will be accepted beginning on September 1.

Those interested in applying can contact the town’s natural resources Department at (631) 324-0496 or NaturalResources@EHamptonNY.gov.

Leading up to Tuesday's vote, the town identified more than 19,000 individual existing septic systems, including more than 12,500 parcels with antiquated cesspools, many of which are classified as failing, the release said.

Traditional septic systems are the largest source of nitrogen entering the town’s ground- and surface waters and nitrogen pollution — the greatest threat to the health of the town’s water bodies ‚ results in harmful algal blooms, low dissolved oxygen, and bacterial contamination, leading to the closures of shellfishing areas and swimming beaches, the town said.

Cyanobacteria, which is associated with high nitrogen levels and has been linked to respiratory and gastrointestinal distress in humans and death in animals, has been found in Georgica Pond and Wainscott Pond in recent months.

The town's efforts to encourage use of low-nitrogen sanitary systems will significantly reduce the amount of nitrogen in sanitary system effluent, and the rebate program will have a positive impact on human health and recreation, as well as East Hampton's natural resources and traditional fishing industry, town officials said.