Statement from The Nature Conservancy Regarding Governor Hochul’s Long Island Announcements in 2022 State of the State Address

The Nature Conservancy released the following statement from Kevin McDonald, The Nature Conservancy’s Long Island policy advisor: 

“After a decade of escalating water quality maladies that have plagued Long Island, The Nature Conservancy applauds Governor Kathy Hochul for increased investments to bring clean water and healthy coasts back to Long Island in her State of the State address today. As the nation’s first and New York’s largest suburb, Long Island’s local water and wastewater infrastructure is inadequate for today’s needs and is the root cause of local water problems. Outdated infrastructure allows untreated sewage to contaminate Long Island’s water and intensify harmful algal blooms. Most of our water problems originate with antiquated septic systems and outdated sewage treatment plants. Sewage contaminates our drinking water, harms our bays and harbors, threatens a $5 billion tourism economy, and puts the health of people, pets, and wildlife at risk.

“Addressing nitrogen pollution from sewage on Long Island is a shared priority for local government, communities, businesses, environmental leaders, labor, and contactors. We’re pleased to see additional funding to replace polluting septic systems with clean water technology, as well as a proposal for a Suffolk County Wastewater Management District. We need these increased investments and look forward to working with the Governor and State Legislature to restore clean water for Long Islanders.”