County Helps Fund Library Innovative/Alternative Wastewater System

Pictured are: Jason Borowski, President of the Blue Point Civic Association and a representative of Save the Great South Bay; Deputy County Executive Peter Scully; Kevin McDonald, Conservation Project Director for Public Lands of The Nature Conservancy; Library Board President Ronald F. Devine, Jr.; Library Board Vice-President Stephanie Heineman; Library Trustee Susan Kennedy-Smith; Library Director Mike Firestone; Gary Gonzalez, Project Manager with Park East Construction; and, Brookhaven Town Councilman Neil Foley.

A $250,000 grant from Suffolk County has enabled the Bayport-Blue Point Public Library to enhance the quality of the community’s groundwater through the installation of an Innovative and Alternative (I/A) onsite wastewater system. Enhanced I/A septic system designs have shown promise for removing much of the nitrogen in wastewater before it enters surrounding groundwater, estuaries, and ponds. The I/A system replaces two outdated sanitary systems. Because Long Island depends entirely upon underground water for its drinking water supply, the regional environmental community has widely encouraged adoption of these advanced systems and has applauded the library for its efforts in this regard.

Also instrumental in securing the funding were Chris Clapp, Executive Director of the Ocean Sewage Alliance; Bob Draffin, President of the Bayport Civic Association; Suffolk County Legislators Dominick Thorne and Anthony Piccirillo; County Executive Steve Bellone; and BBS Architects.