HomeMy WebLinkAboutComprehensive Water Resources PlanSUFFOLK COUNTY
COMPREHENSIVE WATER
RESOURCES MANAGEMENT PLAN
SUMMARY
I::lvirke and BarCilu==i
=onmul~ing engln~erm
and MALCOLM PIRNIE INC.
COUNTY OF SUFFOLK
MICHAEL A. LOGRANOE
FROM COUNTY KX~CO'rz~g MICHAEL A. Lo~RANDE
The wise use and protection of our sole-sourns groundwater resource is
of vital concern to mm, as ic should be co every resident of Suffolk Coun-
ty. Over the last decade, governmental prosram~ on the county and
level have been directed toward a goal of ensuring an adequate and safe
water supply for present and future generations. Huch more, however, needs
to be accomplished.
The concepts of water supply management have changed a great deal in
the seventeen years, since Suffolk County completed its last comprehensive
water study. We are now aware of an urgent need to protect our groundwater
resource from toxic and hazardous chemicals that are used by various sec-
tors of our society, and to provide our present population with potable
water "at the tap."
The Suffolk County Comprehensive Water Resources Hana~emant Plan --
Just completed in January 1987 -- defines a strate87 for achievin~ these
and other water resource management objectives. The plan was prepared by
the Suffolk County Department of Health Services aud its consulting engin-
eers, ~rlth input from a technical steering committee, a citizens advisory
committee, and local government.
Resource protection objectives can be achieved through tightened
refulation, supported by an improved technical understanding; participation
by an educated public viii also he required. And although Suffolk has more
than a sufficient quantity of water to neet its future needs, the desir-
ability of conserving water has been reco~nized. Protection and conserva-
tion programs, however, must be supplemented rich efforts to deal with
existing water quality and water supply problems.
Active involvement by the county through the Capital Reserve Fund is
recommended to provide potable water to residents whose private wells have
become contaminated. The extension of public water mains is considered the
best solution, though in soma areas rural water supply (home treatment
unit) programe may have to be established. The fund should be expanded to
facilitate the installation of ~ter treatment at impacted public supply
veils, the provision of emergency water supplies during service interrup-
tions, and the provision of interim water supplies {e.g., bottled water)
where extensions of public water are delayed.
I trust that you share my concerns on this vital issue, and will take
the time to review the attached plan sowAryo The recommendations outline
the programs needed to achieve a clean and adequate water supply; I will be
proposing ~any of them for adoption in 1987 and 1988. With your support,
we can move fot~ard with plan implementation, and accomplish the tasks that
are essential for a secure and prosperous future.
PURPOSE
The Comprehensive Water Resources
Management Plan defines a strategy
for ensuring au adequate and safe
water supply for Suffolk County
resident8 through the planning
period 2020 and beyond. The goal
is to --intein water supply 8elf-
sufficiencywithin the various Eeo-
graphic regions of the county, with
a a£Lnimum of inter-regional water
transmission. The plan ~as pre-
pared by the Suffolk County Depart-
meet of Health Services (SCDHS) and
its consulting engineers, with in-
put from a technical steering com-
mittee, a citizens advisory coenit-
tee, and local government.
STUDY ,u~,
The plan covers all of Suffolk
County, which has a' land area of
approximately 885 square miles
(566,500 acres) and contains ten
towns, 29 villages, and 73 school
districts. The county is also div-
ided into eight Hydrogeologic Zones
based on groundwater flow patterns
and existing water quality, and
several special water management
areas that require more localized
planning considerations (Figure 1).
In addition, recent SCDHS reports
on the ~ater resources of the North
Fork and South Fork are companion
documents to the comprehensive plan
report.
Suffolk County has experienced
significant residential, commer- ·
cial, and industrial development
since the mid-1960s, and is expec-
ted to continue developing at a
moderate rate over the next 40
years, particularly on the East
End. Residential acreage has
creased almost 60 percent, and is
projected to increase by another 30
percent by the year 2020; most of
:his development will take place in
Brookhaven and the five eastern
towns. The projec:ed 2020 residen-
tial total of 190,000 acres will
represent about one-third of Suf-
folk'8 total land area.
FIGURE I h'YD~0GEOLOGIC ZONES AND SPECIAL HANACENENT A~AS
-1-
Commercial and industrial act*ewe
Bore than doubled since the u~d-
1960s. Comercia], acreage is pro-
jetted to iucrease by an additional
22 percent by the year 2020, vhile
industrial acreage ~ll increase by
50 percent, bringieg the conbined
area si the two [and use categories
to 32,600 acres (or 6 percent of
Suffolk's total land area).
cultural acreage declined
64,~00 acres in the ~td-l~Os
52,600 acres in 19~1, ~d is
pert:ed to lose an additional 16,300
acres (312) by the ),ear 2020.
About 231,000 acres -- or two-
fifths of Suffolk's total land area
N ~ill re~atu uudev~loped through
the year 2020, including 107,000
acres of recreational and open
space lands (such as parklands,
nature preesrvee, golf courses, end
ce~eteries), and 124,000 acres of
vacant land.
FOF~L~O~
Suffolk's population nearly doub-
led between 1960 and 1980, and is
expected to increase another 20
percent through the year 2020 (Fig-
ute 2). Population ~rmeth during
the period 1960-1980 occurred pri-
marily in the five western towns,
and brought the 1980 year-round
populatiou to al~st 1.28 a~tllimt;
the year-round polmlati~n is au~-
eaatad in ~r by over 170,000
110,0OO reside o~ the Sou~h Fork.
The pro}acted 2020 populs~lou of
1.5~ uilliou represents about 85
percent of the ultimtCe s&~urstion
population (given present zonln~
patterns and pro3ected household
sizes), Aboue one-third o~ the
prolected 260,000 population in-
creese will occur in the four west-
ern tou~s, sca-third in Broo~heveo,
and one-third on the hat End.
2SO '
-2-
uEGUT.,A~ZONS AND FEO~RA~
There are numerous federal,
state, and local regulations 'and
pFograms related to groundwater and
water supply management. At the
federal level, these include the
Safe Drinking Water Act and Super-
fund. New York State programs are
administered by the State Health
Department and the Department of
Environmental Conservation. Suf-
folk County Department of Health
Services programs are conducted
pursuant to State Public HenlthLaw
and the Suffolk County Sanitary
Code, which includes provisions
covering water supply (Article
realty subdtviotons (Article 6),
water pollution (Article 7), and
hazardous materials storage (Arti-
cle 12).
FRESH SURFACII ~ATERRESOUR~S
The consumptive use of ground-
water reduces water table eleva-
tions, which in turn lo.ers lake
levels and reduces strea=flows.
Such changes may alter surface
water quality and adversely impact
the ecolosy of freshwater wetlands
and fisheries; they can also affect
the use of parks and recreational
areas adjacent to freshwater sys-
tems. Modelling studies conducted
for the plan indicate possible
water table and streamflo~ reduc-
tions of 50 percent along the Nas-
sau-Suffolk border as a result of
severing in both counties, and new
well fields in Nassau (see Ground-
water Resources, belom). Recommen-
dations to address this problem are
included in the plan.
G~OUND~ATERF~SOU~CES
Suffolk's groundwater reservoir
is divided into three main aquifers
-- the upper glacial, Hagothy, and
Lloyd (Figure 3). The volume
water stored within the aquifer
system is on the order of 70 tril-
lion gallons, or about 200 times
the volume of water (precipitation)
recharged each year (at an average
rate of 1.12 ~d/sq mile). The
flow of groundwater through the
Position of interface esci~aced.
FXGURE 3 H~DROGEOLOGIC CROSS SECTION: EATONS NECK/BAY SHONE
-3-
system is geaere&ly doumuard in
central hydro~eolofic zones (~, XX,
XX~, and V) and ZaCoraX (wtch
shoreXtm d~sehrge) tn c~ ~utn-
~ng zo~s (see F~res I and 3).
The ~a~e o~ gF~water
s~ -- on ~he order of 1-2 ~ee~
per day in ~he upper glacial aqui-
fer, ~d ~e88 In the ~per aqui-
f~rs; ~r~ore, c~lon in-
Zr~u~d ~ar
ar~ ~Z~ Z~e ~ds of years
~ace of ~e gr~er ~8ervo~
-- teapots zo vafla~L~ ~u re-
c~rgu and ~t~ Krm.
vaz~o~ are
the cenCra~ ~rztou of the c~nCy,
where seaso~ a~ ~g-te~ nacur-
a~ ~luccuac~ons My ra~e 8evera~
~eec. ~ng studies ~nd~cate
that s~gnif~ut ~cer cab~e de-
climes could occur in western
folk as a result of severing, and
propoeed mldiCion~l pumpm~ in Nas-
sau (Figure 4). Impacts in Suffolk
viii be particularly severe (up co
50 percent of present elevations in
some places) if 28 ~d is shifted
to proposed pumping canters at Muc-
toato~n and ~tauetto ~ills. ~o~;-
ever, s<~er e~croechaent along
the south shore of Suffolk County
is mac expected to occur.
DaCe from public and private
wells Were used Co up the areal
excenc of srouedum~er couCa,MnaCion
in Suffolk. geCer quality data
were. also collected vich special
l~d use eeoc veils installed for
Chis study. These data [nd[ca~e
C~C h~n ac~iviCie8 ~ve degraded
si~i[i~nC portions o~ the shallov
FIGURE 4 NOM~.I.ZIIG RK~ULTS ~ YRAR 2020
aquifer. Dense residential devel-
opment has contributed nitrate from
cesspools and fertilizers, and or-
sanic solvents from consumer pro-
ducts such as cesspool cleaners.
Western Suffolk has seen the great-
est impact. Commercial/industrial
facilities throughout the county
have added organic chemicals from
effluents and leaking gasoline
storage tanks, while agricultural
activities on the East End have
introduc~d fertilizer nitrate and
pesticides such as aldicarb and
carbofuran.
Twenty-five glacial supply wells
and almost 1,000 private wells
have been found to exceed organics
guidelines, while four public sup-
ply wells and over 2,700 private
wells have exceeded pesticide
guidelines and have been fitted
with carbon filters. Contamination
of Magothy supplies has thus far
been rare, but is probably inevit-
able since natural processes will
not attenuate pollution as it moves
downward and laterally through the
aquifer system. A Groundwater
Suitability Classification System
was developed as a planning tool to
establish remedial action require-
ments for new and existing public
water supply facilities (Figure 5).
~IISTIE WaR SUPPLIES
Approximately 85 percent of Suf-
folk's year-round population is
served by public water supplies.
Of the l.l million people on public
water, about 86 percent are served
by the Suffolk County Water Author-
try -- the largest of 80 community
systems, which include 15 municipal
water districts and six investor-
omted water utilities. The remain-
ing 200,000 year-round residents
rely on an estimated 66,400 private
wells. In addition, about one-
quarter of Suffolk's seasonal pop-
ulation of 171,000 is served by an
estimated 11,400 private wells.
Two percent of the population on
public water in 1986 was served by
"marginal" systems that cannot pro-
vide adequate service or respond to
emergency situations. The 27 mar-
ginal systemS identified by the
SCDHS include seven community water
supplies serving 11,600 people, and
20 non-community (seasonal-res£den-
rial) facilities serving 9,800.
WATER USE
Groundwater pumpage in Suffolk
increased four-fold during the per-
iod 1950 to 1980 -- from 46 mgd to
almost 208 mgd (see Figure 2).
Most current pumpage is for resi=
dential use (651), followed by com-
mercial/industrial (21%), and agri-
culture (71). Glacial wells pro-
vide ~7 percent of the water used
county-wide, and are the primary
source in Brookhaven and points
east. In the densely populated
western towns, however, Magothy
supply wells have replaced most
glacial wells. About 40 percent of
the water pumped (96 mgd) is expec-
ted to be used consumptively; sew-
age effluent discharges to marine
waters will account for a little
less than half (43 mgd).
MANAGEMENT OPTIONS
Cost-effective water treatment
solutions to contamination problems
at public supply wells include the
following: nitrate (ion exchange),
pesticides (granular activated car-
bon adsorption), volatile organic
chemicals (aeration), a combination
of all three (reverse osmosis).
Point-of-use treatment using GAC
adsorption (for VOCs or pesti-
cides), ion exchange (for nitrate),
or RO (for nitrate alone or in com-
bination with other contaminants)
is a solution for small systems and
areas served by private wells.
Development of new well fields
with transfer co existing distribu-
tion systems can be a viable alter-
native to treatment for nitrate
and/or pesticides (but not VOCs).
For a I mgd system, transfer dis-
tances up to 3-4 ~tiles could be
cost-effective for nitrate or pes-
ticides alone, and up to 1! miles
-5-
£~ bo~h con~a-~Lnan~s are present;
~hese d~s~ances vou~i ~ncrease
increa~X~ system ~cX~y.
co ~er c~c~c or cri~fer)
exile for de. AK rich ricer eu~ly
problem. InCer~l, ~rc-ce~ 8~
luC~o~ co e~rgen~ proble~
clude che use o[ ~ccled racer,
~ncralized water d~sCri~c~on, and
~he blending o[ e~s~ng ve~l sup-
pl~es. ~any 1o~ce~ soluC~ous
~ve l~ced ~ap~l ~c-
abil~cy, ln~M~ C~ u~ of fresh
eur[a~ waters, Cr~i~ bra~ish
nonpocable ~r~l~, ~ applying
vari~ re~arge cec~i~es. 0C~r
opCious chac are uot nov v~able ~c
~ve a potential lot future use
~nc[ude desa~Cing seawater, reusing
vaecevaCer lot potable uses, and
~a~l~n~ or retrofitting
Vacer coDeervacion can help co
ensure the long-Cer~ adequacy
the ~roundv&cer supply ~d prev~
envtro~n~a~ [~c~s due ~o
du~d wa~er levels. ~p~al,
at,on, ~ ~nce~ ~8C8
loc ~vage CreaC~uC ~ac~l~C~es;
o~ers o[ private vel~s could
realize cost sav~s. Co~erva~on
~aeures chac cou[d ~
chro~h re~laC~ or ~b[ic educ-
tion include reductions ~n curff a~
agrt~lCural irr~gaC~on, ~ncro[
sysc~ lea~e, a~d ~uc~lac~
water saving p~u~tng ~xCuces.
cocal ~cer ~e ~ducC~on of ~-10
percent in Suffolk can ~ achieved
through ~nservaCion vith ~
nificanc adverse e[fecc on the
standard of living.
Group.acer resources c~ ~
Cecced by a n~r o[ techniques
available co governlenc ac
-6-
Seund
state, county, and local Ievels,
including planning, land use reg-
ulations (e.g., zoning), public
health regulations, land acquisi-
tion, and taxation. Land in cri-
tical watershed areas ~ay be ac-
quired through gift, negotiated
purchase, condemnation, and tax
lien; government can also protect
watersheds by facilitating trans-
fers of development rights.
GROUNDWATER/WATER SUPPLY PROBLEMS
Nine specific problems, which
fall into three general categories,
are of greatest concern:
Groundwater Quality
1. organic chemical contamination
(industrial discharges, chemical
spills, household chemical usage)
2. pesticide contaminatioe (agri-
cultural and residential applica-
tions)
3. nitrate contamination (on-lot
wastewater disposal, fertilizer
applications)
4. chloride contamination (over-
pumpage of groundwater, agricul-
tural fertilizers, salt storage
piles)
Groundwater Quantity
5. undesirable changes in water
levels (marine discharges of
wastewater effluents, excessive
groundwater pumpage and trans-
mission, poor drainage and storm-
water control)
6. reallocating water from areas of
surplus to areas of deficit
Water Supply Distribution
7. extending public water, partic-
ularly to contaminated areas
8. taking over or improving sub-
standard water supplies
9. locating future water supplies
-7-
The plan*s recommendations are
divided into two basic categories:
those designed to protect the quan-
tity and quality of the resource,
and chose designed to ensure chat
potable water is available to all
residents.
REJOICE PROI~IO~
The groundwater protection
sures recos~a~ed for im~emmnta-
tion by Suffolk ~unCy gm~lly
involve the ~ of present
program In C~ are~ o~ ~blic
eduucion, m~htt~ and enforce-
MnC, pla~inf, s~d invesCigaci~m:
Public Education
· Public lnfornation Programs
Objective: To foster l~ple~enta-
tion of study recomtMations,
particularly t_~e_e related to
water cou. rv&tion, toxic
h~ehold mca dis~eal, ~d
n~-afri~l~ ier~ilizer and
pes~lcide us.
Recommendation: Expand county
~blic i~os~i~ progrm.
* Toxic Household ~e Disposal
Objective: To facilitate a~ co-
ordinate local STOP (Stop
Thr~inS OuC Pollut~Cs) pr~
~c~n~Cion: Provide
rich profr~ ~blici~y, /ile
the co~s con~iuue co ~
sponsible for prosra~ o~ra-
CiO~S.
e ~acer Conservation
Objective: To reduce vasCa~e of
vicar ~d the ~ed ~or
Reco~ndaCion: Pr~ ~lunC~ry
reductions in water use, par-
ticularly ~e related co
irrigation, a~ ~ndaCe leak
dececCion/re~dia~ion progra~
for public supplier· and
~nacion of decreasin~ block
race· for non-residen~ial and
mult[-d~e[lin~ (~er ~ered)
· County Cooperative Program
Objective: To promote environ-
mentally safe mthods of ap-
plication for agricultural and
residential fertilizers and
pesticides.
Reco~aendations: Expand public
information programs of the
Cooperative Ex~u~on and Suf-
folk Couaty Soil and Water
a~tCt~ ~rC ~r
Kouitorin~ and ~amL~Lm~
Objective: To i~ es~e~s~nc
envtr~al ~i~ at
co~rcl~ ~ l~Crtal fa-
cilities, parti~larly those
locl~ed in deep r~c~se or
water supply ~lCive are~,
and Co resp~ co ~w, ~e
scriulenc USlPA and ~SDOH
drinkini water sea.ods aM
water supply nrveillance re-
quire~ncs.
~eco~endacion: Expand county
co~llaqce ~nicorint and water
supply surveillance capabil-
ities.
Che~cal Spill ~st
Objective: To e~iCe e~rsency
cleanups of c~l spills nd
provide con--tim for third
parties ~ed as a resul~ of
such spills.
Reco~ndaCion: ~ecablish a coun-
=y conCinsency fund for e~r-
~ency cleanups; authorize the
the County ACCo~y Co handle
licilacion ~o recover coscs
~ron responsible parcins, and
the Co~Cy ~Croller ~o ~-
sees Clai~ ·
He~ F~e~ Protection
Object,ye: To a~er~ ~bl~c ~e~e~
s~pp~e~s o~ the potant~a~ ~o~
~u~e va~eF qua~ problems
so ~hac reMdial actions such
as aquifer restora=io~ or in-
s=al[acions of water ~reaC~n~
equipmen~ can ~ expedi=ed.
Reco~endacion: Es=ablish a court-
-8-
ty program to install an early
warning network of monitoring
wells.
· Industrial Property Transfer
Objective: To ensure at the time
of sale that industrial and
commercial properties have not
and will not cause groundwater
contamination.
· ecommendatlon: ~equire sellers
to file with the county a site
assessment that demonstrates
and certifies that the property
is clean, and require cleanup,
if necessary, prior to property
transfer,
Planning
· Wastewater Collection
Objective: To evaluate the need
for additional structural men-
critical groundwater resources.
Recommendation: Conduct county
feasibility studies of waste-
water collection and treetment
in heavily developed, unsewered
commercial and industrial areas
of the deep recharge zone; con-
duct county or town studies of
fast-growing residential areas,
and areas previously developed
at medium to high densities, be
conducted.
· Bi-County Water Development
Objective: To foster bi-county
cooperation in groundwater mat-
term of mutual concern, such
the proposed Nassau pumping
atto Hills that could cause
significant water table and
streamflow reductions in Suf-
folk.
Recomendation: Establish e
county water development agree-
· Flow Augmentation Needs
Objective: To mitigate the
pacts of the Southwest Sewer
Recommendation: Obtain federal
and state grants for county to
identify the streams to be aug-
meuted, design remedial ac-
tions, and prepare plans and
specifications.
Investigations
· Pesticides
Objective: To establish the need
for controls on additional ag-
ricultural pesticides, and
chemicals applied by home-
owners, utilities, and insti-
tutions.
Recomnendatiou: Conduct county
field studies of groundwater
impacts, and annual inventories
o£ pesticide uae.
· Stream Corridor Recharge
Objective: To evaluate the need
for additional land use and
wastewater controls within the
watersheds of major streams.
Reco~endatlon: Conduct county
field studies to better define
the relationship between reg-
ional groundwater flow and
shallow groundwater discharges
to the Connetquot, Carmans, and
Pecouic ltivers.
· Saltwater Interface
Objective: To improve regulations
on screen placement and pumping
rates for shoreline wells.
Reco~ndation: Conduct county
field studies to examine salt-
water interface responses to
pumping stresses (saltwater
upconing) and natural processes
such a8 tidal fluctuations and
drought conditions.
Federal, State, or Local Actions
These actions include continued
use of local zoning powers for the
protection of deep recharge areas;
municipal controls (limitations) on
the removal of native vegetation
and the percentages of lot areas
that may be covered by turf; new
federal and/or improved state con-
trols on cesspool and drain clean-
ers; and, control of pesticides
through improved state reporting
requirements, liability coverage by
mauufacturers, and container depos-
its.
-9-
The water supply distribution
recommendations are desi~ned to
ensure a supply o~ poCabZe ~aCer
all Suffolk residents, including
honorers with conta~ed pri-
vate wells. These reco~ndatlons
have ~en divided into ~ program
ele~n~s:
· Water ~n gxCe~ton Program
Ob]ec~ive: To ex~8~ ~bllc water
~ins co ar~8 ~re
grocer q~licy chreaCe~
public
Recomndacion: ~uCt~ a~
pand C~ re~ncly
county ~ pr~=~ co off-
sec parc (20Z) of C~
$31 ~llion total ~sC for ex-
tending discribuc~on ~ins co
impacted areas; ~llizt the
Suffolk County Public Water
Works Sys~es ~ ~ee
· x=en~ of wa=er qu~Zy pro~
le~; urge =~ ~ a~ ~ver-
head Water Dia~ric~ ~o con-
st~ct regio~l tra~lssion
mins in portions of their
vice areas.
· Water Supply
Objective: To address increased
water treat~nt ~ds at public
water supply ~11 [i~l~
csssitated ~ ~ U~A steW-
ards amd future groundwater
pollution problem.
Reco~endation: Provide county
financial incentives for con-
stmction of treat~nt facil-
ities by affected water
pliers.
· Li~cing New Private Supplies
Ob~eccive: To pre.nc C~ prolif-
eration of su11, ur~i~lly
operated private racer supply
sysCe~.
Reco~ndaCion: ~nd Article i of
the Suffolk County Sanitary
Code co require thaC ~v
~niCy and non-co~,nity sys-
ce~ ~ ~ned and operated by
an exisCint community water
sopplier, or chac special dis-
tricts be formed; encourage
fire districts to ~pgrade fire
flow requirsuents co prevent
installation of undersized
E~ergency Public Supply Services
Objective: To provide water sup-
ply services when e~ergencies
(service interruptions) due
equipmnt failures, well con-
ta~ination, water ~in breaks,
or ii~ncial [ailur~ of water
· upplierm ~cur.
RO~G~C~OG: ~scablish a coun-
ty ~nCi~eu~ fund Co fiance
Interim Privaue Supply Services
Objective: To supply potable
~a~r on an interim ~sis
residen~s in conCa~ted areas
chat are a~aiuiug the exuenston
of ~blic ~ins.
· eco~a~ion: Provide
c~n~y ffu~lng for short-term
~ures such aa ~21ed ~a~er,
ceu~ralis~ dis~ri~i~,
porary ~ins, ~ ~inC-of-use
~vices; utiliz~ the S~A or
ocher ag~cies ~o provide in-
terim s~rvic~s, and require
~hose receiving ~hese services
Co reimburs~ C~ county.
Rural ~a~er Supply ~sis~auce
Objective: To provide potable
driving racer ~o conc~ed
are~ c~ are hOC accessible
Co water Min exCe~i~s.
Rec~nda~ion: Provide county
financial assis~ance for ~he
purchase of 9oin=-of-use
~n= uni=s, ~o ~ dis=ribuced
~hrou~h =o~ wa=er quali~y dis-
~r~inal Maker Co.any Acquisi-
=ion and
Objective: To e~di=e ~he up-
~radifl~ or =akeover of over
~wo doz~ ~rEinal co~ni~y
~eco~endacion: Develop a
county pro,ram =ha= ~acludes
priorl=y raflkin~ and schedul-
ing, and es=~ma=es of improve-
men~ or acquisi~ion costs.
-I0-
· Well Field Site Acquisition
Objective: To reserve potential
sites for future public water
supply well fields,
Recommendation: Give municipal
and publically-owned water
supplier· the right of first
refusal on properties forclosed
by the county; initiate a coun-
ty feasibility study of provid-
ing the SCOA and other suppli-
er· acce·s to 8tatss COUnty,
and municipel parklands and
open space,
· Well Abandonment and Replacement
Objective: To ensure that home-
owner replacement wells are
properly designed and located
· o as to protect public health,
and that abandoned well· are
correctly sealed so as to pre-
vent surface contamination from
being introduced into the un-
derlying aquifers.
Reco~endation: Expand existing
county programs for the re~ula-
tion of abandoned and replace-
ment wells.
SPECIAL HANAG~NT ARI~S
The study ~akes reco~nendations
for 13 special water ~nage~n~
areas where limited ~reshwater
lenses are encountered. The plan
also incorporates reco~ndaCions
free ~o previo~s county ~acer
studies -- North Fork ~a~er Supply
Plan (1983) and South Fork Supple-
men~al ~acer Resources Study
General Reco~endatione
Hany of the special management
areas are characterized by fresh-
water lenses that are isolated from
the ~roundwater reservoirs of the
main body of the county and the
forks. These areas have an ade-
quate quantity of water to meet
projected overall water demands and
consumptive use, although localized
water supply problems may still
occur due to the proximity of the
saltwater interface and/or the
presence of groundwater pollution.
It is recommended that the well
design guidelines presented in the
plan be used to set allowable pump-
ing rates in relation to aquifer
thicknesses.
Voluntary conservation measures
are recommended to reduce pumping
needs and lessen the chances of
inducing saltwater upconiug in in-
dividual wells; mandatory restric-
tions on pumpage and consumptive
use, ho~ever, are not needed to
protect the overall volumes of the
lens resources, It is also recom-
mended that water quality condi-
tions in coastal areas be carefully
monitored, and that municipalities
begin planning for public water
main extensions or the establish-
ment of water quality treatment
districts in areas with existing or
potential housing densities greater
than one dwelling unit per acre.
Area-Specific Reco~,endations
· Lloyd Neck o continue reliance on
private wells
· Eatons Neck make additional
water hookups in Asharoken
· Gilgo-Oak Beach - upgrade systems
for year-round service
· Fire Island - interconnect exist-
ing public systems
· Westha~pton Beach - study feasi-
bility of extending main to
Shinnecock Inlet
· Nassau Point - establish a water
quality district
· Great Hog Neck - begin detailed
water supply planning
· Orient - establish a water qual-
ity treatment district
· Plum Island - no specific action
required at this time
· North Haven begin detailed
planning for southern and east-
ern portion· (and Bay Point in
Southampton Town)
· Montauk - develop wells in Hither
Woods; extend main to Montauk
Beach
· Shelter Island - extend existing
systems, where feasible
· Fishers Island - continue reli-
ance on surface supplies
/
/
/
-11-
orth Fork
It is recoumended that the towns
of Rlverhead and Southold individ-
ually assume responsibility for
implementing water supply programs
within their boundaries through the
establishment of Water Management
Programs and Water Supply Districts
to utilize individual home treat-
ment unite (Water Quality Treatment
Districts) and extend public racer
systems. Specific ~blic water
supply actions recoumadad include
the consolidation of mull sysCemm
in Wading River/Norchville; ex~en-
sion of the Ri~mrhead District Co
Calverton and portions of Aqua-
bolus; takeover and upgrading of
the Captain Kidd Water Company;
and, expansion of the Greenport
Water District or usin$ the SCWA as
a water supplier.
lC ls ffurther recouuended that
new subdivisions in contaminated
area8 be required to connect to
existing public racer systems or
construct ney public supplies,
which would become part of a town
district. Recommended ~roundvater
protection measures include
creased monitoring, resmarch, and
education efforts; controls on the
sale and use of products that
threaten ~roundwater; and, incor-
poration of wa~er quality and quan-
tity considerations in zo~Lng de-
cisions. A regional pipeline sys-
tem to carry uncontaminated ground-
water from eastern Riverhead is not
reco~uaended because of eoono~ic,
kinstltutional, and social concerns.
South Pork
It is race.sanded that Public
water be extended, or water quality
treatment districts be established,
for those areas impacted by
trace, organics, and/or pesticides:
portions of Napeague, Springs,
western Amagansett, North Haven-Bay
Point, North Sea, north el and
within the Shinnecock Indian Reser-
vation, north of the railroad (from
southern Tuckahoe east through
Scuttlehole to southern Bridgehamp-
ton), around Mecox Bay (Wickapogue,
Flying Point, Cobb, Water Mill,
Hayground, and Mecox), and between
Sagaponack Lake and Georgica Pond
(Sagaponack and Wainscott).
It is further race.ended that
the drawdown of contamination into
deeper portions of the aquifer be
minimized by restricting the loca-
tion of large-capacity public sup-
ply w~lls to areas free of shallow
8xonudw~ter pollution, and by
itin~ the depth and capacity of
irrigation ~lls; that uo further
water supply woll devolop~nt occur
in the area of Noutauk beL~eeen Fort
Pond and Lake Honcmuk, since exist-
in~ yells already experience eleva-
ted chloride coocentratione during
peak pumping periods; and, that
residential development on lots
less Char 1/2 acre in size not be
allo~ed anywhere on the South Pork,
even ~hen such development involves
a ~ranefer of devmlope~ut rights.
III. PB~ittl( I~L~i~BTATI~ COSTS
Table 1 presents a sus~ary of
reco~nded program implementation
costs and scheduling. Full imple-
mentation will require Re.rye Fund
and Capital Budget outlays of al-
most $11 million, and Operetiu~
Budget expemiiture$ averafinf al-
meSt $1 million annually; a 5-year
phase-in of program fumding is
therefore recommended.
-12-
TABLE 1
PLA~ II~LEI~NTATION COSTS AND SCHEDULE
USERVE FU~D PRO~RA~S
Water Main Extensions
Water Supply Treatment
Emergency Public Water
Interim Private Water
Rural Water Supply
~OT~L
Costs ($ thousand)
1988 1989 1990 199~1 1992
1,250 1,250 1,250 1,250 1,250
460 460 460 &60 460
250 .................
250
250
2,&60 1,710 1,?10 1,710 1,710
CAPITAL BUDGET PRD~RAMS
Water Supply Acquisition
Monitoring & Enforcement
Wastewater Planning
Public Information
Well Pield Protection
~OTAL
250 .......
600 ....................
200 .......
150
550 ............................
750 1,000
Water ~ain Extensions
Well Replacement
Monitoring & Enforcement
Chemical Spill Response
Pesticide Investigations
Public Information
Bi-County Water Agreement
Well Site Acquisition
Stream InvasCilations
Saltwater Investigations
Well Field Protection
Toxic Household Wastes
Water ¢onserva~iou
FANS Completion
Co. Cooperative Program
Ind. Property Transfer
TOTAL
55 55 55 55 55
4.0 4.0 4.0 4.0 4.0
250 500 650 850
1 O0 i O0 I O0 1 O0 1 O0
50 50 50 50 50
40 40 40 40 40
30 30 30 30 30
40 125 125 125 125
60 60 60 60 60
30 30 30 30
50 50 50 50
415 830 1,080 1,230 1,430
-13-