HomeMy WebLinkAboutGroundWater Protection Area 1989NOMINATION P~TITIO~
SUBMITTED TO
COMMISSIONER THOMAS C. JORLING
NEW YORK STATE DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENTAL CONSERVATION
BY
LONG ISLAND REGIONAL PLYING BOARD
ON BEHALF OF THE
SPECIAL GROUND-WATER PROTECTION AREA ADVISORY COUNCIL
CALLING FOR THE DESIGNATION OF THE
SOUTHOLD SPECIAL GROUND-WATER PROTECTION AREA
December 1989
Introduction
The proposed Southold Special Ground-water Protection Area (SGPA),
shown in Figure 1, is located on the North Fork between Mattituck Inlet
and the hamlet of Southold, with the major portion lying north of the
ground-water divide. The area represents a major portion of the locally
significant deep recharge region, even though the entire North Fork lies
within shallow flow Hydrogeologic Zone IV.
It is comprised of a central region within the Town, having an area
of approximately 2,700 acres. The major land use is agricultural
(approximately 75Z) with a scattering of low and medium density residen-
tial uses throughout. Some commercial uses are located primarily along
the major east/west roadways of Route 25 and Route 27, as well as a few
institutional and industrial uses. Transportaton (LIPd{ corridor) and
recreation/open space (park district/Town holdings) are also uses within
the area. Vacant land encompasses approximately 10% of the area.
The Town of Southold or Suffolk County have obtained developmental
rights on over 15 agricultural parcels, which encompasses approximately
156 acres within the proposed Southold SGPA, or less than 1% of the
SGPA's agricultural acreage. Agricultural uses include vineyards,
nursery/greenhouses, sod farms and crops.
This nomination petition calling for the designation of the
Southold SGPA is organized in accord with the outline of petition
information requirements contained in Article 55, Section 55-0109 of the
NYS Environmental Conservation Law.
(a) whether the special ground-water protection area is a recharge zone
for ~round water with a present or future water supply potential.
The proposed Southold SGPA encompasses the ground-water recharge
zone east of Mattituck Inlet. This recharge area is separate and
distinct from the recharge area west of the Inlet, which is part of the
Central Suffolk SGPA.
Figure 1 shows the boundary of the Southold SGPA in relation to the
ground-water divide, which bisects the North Fork, and the five foot
ground-water table contour line, as depicted on the Suffolk County
Department of Health Services map entitled "Countour Map of the Water
Table and Location of Observation Wells in Suffolk County, New York,
March 1988". The depth of the freshwater resource in this proposed
protection area is not as extensive as that in the other SGPA's in
Suffolk County. In fact, it is so shallow that yearly fluctuations in
water table elevation due to changing rainfall patterns are significant.
The water dome, as defined by the five foot ground-water table contour
line, will decrease in area during drought conditions, and will expand
to some degree during periods of high rainfall.
The proposed SGPA has sufficient freshwater volume to meet water
supply needs in the eastern part of the Town of Southold. It has been
determined that, despite limitations, it contains sufficient quantity to
supply the projected saturation population of 40,000 to 45,000 people.
The Town's current population is between 20,000 and 21,000 people, not
including the seasonal tourist population. This recharge area
represents the only feasible source of future water supply for the
eastern portion of the Town. This has been documented in two major
water resource management studies.
1. North Fork Water Supply Plan~ Suffolk County~ New York. This
report, completed in 1983 by ERM-Northeast Engineers in conjunction with
Camp Dresser & McKee for the Suffolk County Dept. of Health Services,
concluded that the cost of transporting water from the Town of Riverhead
or other locations west of the Town of Southold was cost prohibitive.
The protection of the ground-water resource from further contamination
and its continued use for water supply was recon~ended as the most cost
effective solution. This study also made some other recommendations,
which are included in Appendix A.
2. Suffolk County Comprehensive Water Resources Management Plan.
This report, completed in January of 1987 by Dvirka and Bartilucci,
Consulting Engineers and Malcolm Pirnie, Inc. for the Suffolk County
Dept. of Health Services, reaffirmed the findings of the 1983 North Fork
Water Supply Plan.
At the present time, the Suffolk County Water Authority is working
jointly with the Town of Southold to develop a water resources
development plan for the Core Watershed Corridor, the boundary of which
may correspond to the five foot water table contour line shown in Figure
1.
With regard to public drinking water supply, there is only one
public water supply well field located within the boundaries of the
proposed SGPA - - Greenport Water District's Plant 7 on Ackerley Pond
Lane. Almost all the pumpage from this field is utilized and discharged
outside (east of) the study area. Agricultural pumpage represents by
far the largest consumptive use of the proposed Southold SGPA's
ground-water resource. Using the Cooperative Extension Service
estimated unit pumpage rate of 0.14 million gallons per acre per year
for irrigation of mixed vegetable crops, the area's 2,015 agricultural
acres consmne on the order of 262 million gallons ~er ye~, Which is
equivalent to about 17 percent of average recharge to (or less than l
percent of the ground water in storage below) the area.
(b)
whether the special ground-water protection area is largely
undeveloped with tracts of natural vegetation, or
geological conditions.
natural
Analysis of existing land use and zoning indicate that 2,176 acres
within the 2,700 acre proposed Southold SGPA are available for develop-
ment. The majority of the land available for development is used for
agriculture, but it is zoned for one and two acre residential develop-
ment according to present Town of Southold zoning regulations. This
provides for a potential yield of 735 additional residential lots within
the area with a total of 871 residential lots within all land use
categories. Some additional future commercial and industrial
development could also occur under the existing zoning.
Agricultural properties with development rights that have been
deeded to either the Town or Suffolk County have not been included in
the acreage available for development discussed above. Such development
restrictions are tied to approximately 15 parcels within the area.
The bulk of the undeveloped land in the Town of Southold lies
within the proposed SGPA. It is this land that is going to be the focus
of future development activity. Most of the bay waterfront in the Town
has been developed. Some of these waterfront areas have been impacted
by development upgradient; not to mention by saltwater intrusion caused
by the existing waterfront development itself. Clearly, the need to
protect upgradient water supply to these areas is great.
The Town of Southold intends to protect its water supply for both
public and private wells. Towards this goal, the Town enacted its own
water resources management program in June of 1987. A copy of same is
enclosed as Appendix B.
(c) whether the ground water which is recharged through the special
ground-water protection area is of high quality.
The quality of the water within the proposed SGPA is not of uniform
quality. The water is generally considered by the Suffolk County Dept.
of Health Services to be impacted by nitrates and pesticides.
Agricultural chemicals have contaminated ground water throughout
much of the horizontal and vertical extent of the aquifer below the
area. These chemicals include the inorganic constituents of fertilizers
(e.g., nitrate, sulfate, chloride) and various organic pesticides,
including carbamates (aldicarb, carbofuran) and 1,2-dichloropropane used
on potato crops. The impacts of these chemicals on the aquifer are
reflected in the quality of most of the shallow private wells, Greenport
Water District supply wells at Plant 7 and test wells at Plant 12
(located immediately east of the SGPA boundary), as well as SCDHS
monitoring wells.
Fertilizer contaminants can be found throughout the vertical extent
of the aquifer system, since fertilizers have a long history of use, and
their inorganic constituents are mobile and unreactive. Nitrate concen-
trations in agricultural areas frequently exceed the 10 ppm drinking
water standard, and are occasionally as high as 20-30 ppm. Concentra-
tions at Greenport's Plant 7 wells have remained just below the 10 ppm
standard, while the test wells at the Plant 12 site range from 5.7 ppm
to 9.8 ppm.
Elevated chloride and sulfate concentrations are usually found in
association with elevated nitrates, but neither constituent is
considered a health threat, nor is often found to approach its
respective drinking water standard (250 ppm). Typical chloride and
sulfate concentrations are on the order of 30-50 ppm, but both will
occasionally occur in the 100-150 ppm range or higher.
Pesticide contamination is also widespread within the area.
Pesticides such as aldicarb, carbofuran, and dichloropropane have proven
to be very mobile and unreactive as they move through the aquifer
system; maximum concentrations decrease due to dispersion, but the total
mass of contamination is not reduced by biodegradation, adsorption, or
other processes. For example, aldicarb has been detected in about 20%
of the 25,500 samples from East End private wells since monitoring began
in 1980, and while the average concentration of positive samples has
decreased from 25 ppb in 1980 to 12 ppb in 1988, the median value has
remained around 8 ppb over this time span.
On the average, 250 additional private wells (about 10% of those
sampled) each year are found to exceed the 7 ppb drinking water guide-
line for aldicarb and are fitted with carbon filters supplied by the
manufacturer. At the same time, more than half of the 13,000 to 15,000
wells closest to farm fields, which were impacted by aldicarb first,
have seen an improvement in raw water quality to the extent that filters
can be removed. This trend should continue as aldicarb contamination
moves away from the area of application.
Given the relatively short period of time that aldicarb was used~
and the positive effects of dispersion on contaminant concentration$~ it
is probable that virtually all ground water within the proposed SGPA
will be suitable for drinking water purposes without the need for
aldicarb treatment within the next decade or two. The outlook for
nitrate is not as clear~ and will depend in large part on the effective-
ness of future agricultural practices to limit nitrogen leaching from
crops such as potatoes~ mixed ve~etables~ and sod. The ultimate poten-
tial for treatment-free water supply~ however~ will depend on whether
additional problems arise from past or future pesticide use.
(d) whether the hydrogeologic conditions are such that development
could lead to deEradation of water quality.
Surficial deposits in the proposed SGPA consist of glacial
outwash and gravel derived from the Harbor Hill terminal moraine, which
forms a ridge along the north shore. In most portions of the area,
these deposits are underlain by a significant clay unit formed in lake
and shallow marine environments during the interval between the
Ronkonkoma ice sheet retreat and Harbor Hill ice-front advance. The top
of the unit lies 60'-120' below sea level. Below the clay unit are
older glacial deposits, which rest upon continental margin deposits of
the Magothy Formation.
The only hydrogeologic unit of regional significance, from a water
supply standpoint, is that portion of the upper glacial aquifer lying
above the clay, since glacial deposits below the clay contain only
limited amounts of fresh ground water (above the saltwater interface),
and the underlying Magothy is entirely salty. The clay unit,
therefore, limits the volume of the usable freshwater resource, but also
protects large agricultural and public supply wells from upconing
saltwater. Where the clay is absent, the usable freshwater resource
extends down to the saltwater interface, but pumping is susceptible to
saltwater upconing; such conditions exist in the Mattituck Creek area,
where a large channel was eroded through the clay and was subsequently
refilled by sand and gravel outwash deposits, and the westernmost
portion of the proposed Southold SGPA.
The general direction of ground-water flow in the area east of
Mattituck Creek is toward Long Island Sound, normal to the line of the
central divide. The tidal waters of Mattituck Creek, however, influence
flow directions west of Cutchogue. Horizontal flow velocities within
the proposed SGPA are generally less than one-half foot per day, but may
increase to almost one foot per day during periods of high rainfall,
when water table elevations have been observed to increase by 50 percent
or more above long-term average values. Residence times for the area
range from several years near Mattituck Creek to a century or more near
the divide in Cutchogue.
(e)
whether portions of the ground water within the sole source aquifer
area are already contaminated with toxic organics, nutrients,
salts, or other pollutants so as to warrant special protection for
areas which recharKe high quality 8round water.
An overview of ground-water quality conditions in the proposed SGFA
is contained in section C of this petition. It should be pointed out
that as agricultural lands lie fallow, water quality improves, i.e.,
pesticide and nitrate concentrations decline, especially if such lands
are located along the spine of the North Fork. Figure 1 shows that the
proposed SGPA includes a large area north of the ground-water divide
that is subject to intense development pressure. Measures to protect
further degradation of ground-water quality will be most effective when
applied to the recharge areas
implementation are fewer in the
already developed, especially
shoreline.
The Southold Town landfill
near the divide. Opportunities for
area south of the divide, which are
as one approaches the Peconic Bay
in Cutchogue is located north of the
ground-water divide, just outside the area boundary. Leachate detected
in ground water on the north side of the facility is characterized by
an~nonia-nitrogen concentrations exceeding 100 ppm and chloride
concentrations on the order of 300 ppm. The extent of the plume further
downgradient has not been delineated. The Cornell University analysis
of historic aerial photos identified four disturbed sites within the
proposed SGPA, none of which are suspected of posing a significant
threat to ground water.
whether maintenance of existing high quality in the ground water
recharged through the special ground-water protection area would
have significant economic, social, ecological, recreational or
aesthetic benefits for the sole source aquifer area.
The core watershed corridor
economically viable supply of water for
eastern portion of the Town of Southold.
constitutes the only available and
future populations in the
Designation of the proposed
Southold SGPA will provide both a planning and policy implementation
focus for protecting the limited water resources of the area from
further degradation. With the proper water management plan in place,
ground-water quality conditions within the proposed SGPA will improve
over time, thus assuring a local source of water for the future, and
precluding reliance on other more expensive water supply options for the
region. For further discussion, see Appendix A.
(g)
whether degradation of such ground water would have significant
economic, social, ecological, recreational and aesthetic costs for
the area.
Eighty percent of the area encompassed by the proposed Southold
SGPA boundary is available for development. How this area is managed
and regulated from the water resource protection point of view will
ultimately determine feasibility of utilizing its ground-water resource
(from both quantity and quality perspectives) as the principal source of
water for the eastern portion of the North Fork in the Town of Southold.
Extraordinary protection of this water resource is needed through the
sole source aquifer SGPA vehicle. Preservation of local water supply
potential is recommended as the preferred water supply alternative over
those that involve significantly higher expenditures for either water
quality remediation or infrastructure required for pumpage from a
distant source. Problems could arise from management conflicts
involving multiple jurisdictions, should the Town of Southold need to
pump from a distant source. See the "Recommendations" and "Preventive
Measures" sections in Appendix A for additional discussion.
(h) the preliminary boundaries of the special ground-water protection
area or areas.
The boundary description of the proposed Southoid SGPA is as
follows:
Beginning at a point where the southerly boundary of Oregon Road
intersects the easterly boundary of Mill Lane; then
southward along the easterly boundary of Mill Lane to 500 feet south
of the southern boundary of the L.I.R.R. property; then
eastward 500 feet south of the southerly boundary of the L.I.R.R.
property to Terry Court; then
northward along the westerly boundary of Terry Court to Glover
Lane; then
northeastward along the northerly boundary of Glover Lane to Tucker
Lane; then
northward along the westerly boundary of Tucker Lane to Middle Road
(County Road 48); then
westward along the southerly boundary of Kenney's Road to Sound
View Avenue; then
westward along the southerly boundary of Sound View Avenue to Mill
Road; then
northwestward along the southwesterly boundary of Mill Road to View
Avenue; then
westward along the southerly boundary of View Avenue to Henry's
Lane; then
southward (approximately 50 feet) along the westerly boundary of
Henry's Lane to the LILCO R.O.W.; then
westward along the LILCO R.O.W. to Cox's Lane; then
southward along the westerly boundary of Cox's Lane to Middle
Island Road (County Road 48); then
westward along the northern boundary of Middle Road (County Road
48) to Depot Lane; then
northward along the westerly boundary of Depot Lane to Oregon Road;
then
westward along the southerly boundary of Oregon Road to the place
of origin.
(i) a brief outline of the plan of work.
The outline of work for the Southold SGPA is the same as that
already approved pursuant to Contract #C002145 (Development of Long
Island Special Ground-water Protection Area Plan) between the Long
Island Regional Planning Board and N. Y. State Dept. of Environmental
Conservation for the preparation of a comprehensiv~ management plan for
the other SGPAs in Nassau and Suffolk Counties. A copy of the outline
included in Contract #C002145 is found in Appendix C.
(j) a tentative membership list for any advisory committees.
The Long Island Regional Planning Board will utilize the existing
Special Ground-water Protection Area Advisory Council created in accord
with Article 55, section 55-0113.6 as the advisory committee responsible
for review of the proposed Southold SGPA comprehensive management plan.
The membership of the Advisory Council is listed in Appendix D. An
additional voting member representing the Town of Southold will be
appointed to the Advisory Council.
(k) a reasonable budget request for the pro~ect.
The Long Island Regional Planning Board will prepare the
comprehensive management plan for the proposed Southold SGPA at no
additional cost to the State of New York. There is no request for state
funds in this petition; hence, no budget is included herein.
Appendix A
NORTH FORK WATER SUPPLY PLAN
SUFFOLK COUNTY, NEW YORK
March 1983
Prepared For:
Suffolk County Department of Health Services
Hauppauge, New York
Peter F. Cohalan, Suffolk County Executive
David Harris, M.D., M.P.H., Commissioner
Herbert W. Davids, Director, Division of
Environmental Health
Prepared By:
ERM-Northeast Engineers, P.C.
88 Sunnyside Blvd.
Pl ainview, New York
Camp Dresser & McKee
One World Trade Center
New York, New York
Conclusion. The towns of Riverhead and Southold can best implenent
the study's recommendations: (1) by forming town Water Management
Programs, as administrative functions, to coordinate all water supply
activities in the respective towns, (2) by forming Water Supply Dist
ricts or extending existing district boundaries to purchase, own and
operate private water companies or to construct new public water sys-
tems, and (3) by forming Home Treatment Unit Districts (covering all
or portions of the town area not served by public water) and owning
and maintaining the home units. (The towns may allow private industry
to sell home treatment units after approval of the units by the town,
but the town should retain maintenance responsibility.)
1.2 RECOMMENDATIONS
General Recommendations
(i)
(2)
(3)
(4)
This study has denonstrated conclusively that numerous technical
and financial difficulties are encountered when attempting to
provide potable water to the residents of the North Fork. Pre-
ventive measures to minimize or eliminate additional groundwater
contamination must be implenented. These measures are not
immediate solutions to current water supply problems but are
de$ireabl e and necessary long-term actions.
Because of severe groundwater quality problems in the study
area, a safe, dependable water supply must be provided to the
residents of the North Fork. A combination of individual home
treatment units plus public water systems should be implenented.
Individual home treatment units can contribute significantly to
solving current water supply problms but there should not be a
long-term reliance on home units - instead, measures should be
implenented to start cleansing the aquifers and protecting them
against future contamination.
The towns of Riverhead and Southold should individually assume
responsibility for implementing water supply programs within
their boundaries. Administratively, the towns should establish
Water Management Programs, Water Supply Districts and/or water
improvenents encompassing parts of, or the entire areas of, the
towns, for implementation of the plans and recommendations of
this study. As an incorporated village, Greenport cannot be
included in the Southold District unless it petitions the Town
for inclusion.
The personnel operating the water systems in the hamlet of
Riverhead and Village of Greenport have technical and adminis-
trative water supply expertise which can be utilized by the
towns. Since the Riverhead system is currently a part of Town
government, institutional arrangements would not be required to
1-7
(6)
(7)
(8)
(9)
utilize this expertise. In Southold, the Town can do the fol-
lowing: establish its own water supply staff; contract with
Greenport for personnel services beyond those currently provided
by the Village; or employ a combination of Town staff and
Village services.
The town Water Management Programs should include individual
home treatment as part of their overall responsiblities as Home
Treatment Unit Districts. In order to ensure safety and reli-
ability, the town Home Treatment Unit Districts (not the home-
owner) should own, operate and maintain the home treatment
units, not the homeowner; private enterprise can also be allowed
to supply units, as approved by the towns, but the towns should
retain maintenance responsibilities.
In areas of existing development where groundwater is contamina-
ted, the Water Management Programs should provide public water
systems, if economically feasible, through Water Districts. If
public systems cannot be implemented, home treatment units
should be publicized and recommended by the water programs and,
if existing homeowners request service, the program should
provide, own and maintain the home units.
When new subdivisions are proposed in areas of groundwater con-
tamination or potential contamination, connection to existing
public water supplies of adequate capacity are required. If
such supplies are not available, then new public supplies are to
be constructed by the developer and deeded to a town Water Dist-
rict.
If an existing home is sold in an area of suspected groundwater
contamination, the SCDHS or other appropriate agency should
sample and test the home well and the results should be attached
to the deed. If the water quality does not meet standards, the
current homeowner or new owner should be required to make provi-
sion through the Water Management Program to provide a safe
water supply prior to the sale of the home. This requirement
will necessitate a change in County Heal th Department regula-
tions.
The SCDHS is planning to locate a vending machine in the study
area which will purify local groundwater and sell the purified
water at a nominal cost. If the concept is accepted by the
citizens of the area, other vending machines should be located
by the Water Management Programs throughout the area as interim
measures until the other recommendations of this study are
implemented.
I-8
Area-Speci fic Recommendations
(10)
Wading River/Northville--The existing individual water systems
in Wading River, Baiting Hollow/Woodcliff Park and Reeves Park
should be connected to new supply wells which will separately
serve each of the three individual subsystems. This is neces-
sary to improve the reliability of the supply and to assure
potable water. The new facilities also should be located and
sized to serve areas which do not currently have public water
systems but the new service areas should be developed in a
phased approach.
(11)
The Riverhead Town Water District should own and operate, the new
supply wells and transmission lines, and should sell water to
the individual water systems through metering facilities. If
any of the private systens want to deed their facilities to the
Town, the Water District should accept them.
It is not economically feasible to provide public water systems
to the remainder of the area; these residents should continue to
be served by individual home wells, with treatment as required,
provided by a Home Treatment Unit District.
Riverhead/Jamesport--The Riverhead system should be extended to
serve the Calverton area and should actively attempt to further
expand its system to other areas adjacent to the present system,
!ncluding presently unsewered portions of Aquebogue. Major
~mprovements are not required in the Riverhead system except for
additional distribution system storage. The renainder of the
area, including Jamesport, should continue to be served by indi-
vidual home wells with treatment as required, since it is not
economically feasible to serve those areas with public water
facilities.
(12)
(13)
Mattituck/Cutchogue__The Town of Southold should acquire and
operate the existing water systen in Mattituck Hills (Captain
Kidd); measures should be taken immediately to upgrade the
performance and reliability of the systen and to augment its
source of supply. In the renainder of the Mattituck/Cutchogue
d~nand center (including Cutchogue, Mattituck, Little Hog Neck,
East Cutchogue, Fleets Neck, New Suffolk and Indian Neck) it is
not economically feasible to provide public water supply sys-
tems. These areas should continue to utilize individual home
wells; when treatment is required, it should be provided through
the Home Treatment Unit District.
Southold/Greenport__The Greenport Municipal System, which pre-
sently serves Greenport and parts of Southold, should continue
to rely on local groundwater sources. However, major improve-
meats to the system are required. An agricultural well on
1-9
(16)
County Rt. 48 (on the Donohue Farm) should be upgraded (450-gpm
total capacity) and used for public water supply. A 2.2-mgd
reverse osmosis treatment plant should be constructed in stages
to treat the water from the Donohue Well and existing plants no.
6 and 7 used for removal of nitrates, pesticides and herbicides.
After implementing the improvements, the Greenport system should
actively attempt to further expand into other areas adjacent to
the existing system. Such expansion should not be permitted,
however, until the recommended modifications have been com-
pl eted.
The activities of any town Water Districts should not impact the
existing customers of the Greenport system who are located in
the Town; their charges should only reflect the costs of operat-
ing the present Greenport system after it is upgraded.
In the remainder of the Greenport/Southold area, including Great
Hog Neck and East Marion, it is not economically feasible to
provide public water supply systems. These areas should con-
tinue to be served by individual home wells, with treatment as
required, provided through a Home Treatment Unit District.
Orient--The Orient area, with its relatively low density of
development, cannot economically support public water supply.
Existing development should continue to be served by individual
home wells with treatment as required. The available fresh
water supply is limited and future development should be tightly
controlled and result in water requirements consistent with the
permissive sustained yield of the aquifer in Zone S. It is
further recommended that only variances resulting in less water
usage be approved. If future development is more water-use
intensive, the permissive sustained yield in the area will be
exceeded and other more costly solutions will be needed.
Neighborhood Systems--Public water systems for existing isolated
neighborhoods in areas of groundwater contamination are gener-
ally not economically feasible. Therefore, it is recommended to
continue to serve these areas by individual home wells, with re-
quired treatment provided through a Home Treatment Unit Dist-
rict.
Regional Pipeline System--The development of a major supply of
uncontaminated groundwater in eastern Riverhead and piping it
via a major transmission main to the eastern portions of the
study area was a major alternative considered in the study. It
is not recommended for the following reasons:
i -10
(al
(b)
The pipeline would encourage 1 evel s of development which
appear to be inconsistent with the current life style of
the people and the general character of the area.
The construction of such a pipeline would require the early
commitment of major financial resources and resolution of
numerous institutional issues. Both types of proPlems
would require a great deal of time for resolution; the
water supply probl ems of the North Fork cannot tolerate
significant delays.
(c) The pipeline alternative is economically competitive with
treating local sources of groundwater in MattitucK, Cutch-
ogue, Greenport and Southold only if an uncontaminated
supply can be found in the Mago--6~IYy aquifer, below the clay
layer and above the saltwater interface in eastern River-
head. Preliminary data indicates such a supply exists, but
its extent and yield needs to be verified with pump test
information. To move further west in Riverhead into the
Peconic Valley, where clean groundwater is known to exist
in sufficient quantity, is not economically competitive
with treating local sources of supply.
(17) The cost estimates presented in the report for home treatment
units should only be incurred by those homes requiring home
treatment units. If a home's well tapped a clean supply, that
home would not pay for any treatment costs. However, in the
case of community-type water systems, all homes would have to
pay for the water service, regardless of--'-the quality or safety
of the local groundwater.
Preventive Measures
(18)
This plan has identified numerous technical and financial prob-
lems associated with providing water supply to areas of the
North Fork where groundwater is contaminated. Preventive
measures must be undertaken in parallel with recommendations 2
through 16 in order to eliminate or minimize additional con-
tamination. The following preventive measures are recommended:
(al Expand the SCDHS observation well network and home well
sampling program.
(b)
Support the Cooperative Extension Service, Cornell Univer-
sity and U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) research and
education programs directed to the homeowner and farmer
relative to usage, dosages and timing of application of
herbicides, pesticides and fertilizers.
1-11
(d)
(e)
(g)
(h)
Support the testing of agricultural chemicals by State or
federal agencies in the local environment as a precondition
to use by the farm community.
Prohibit or control the sale or use of products and cheni-
cals which threaten the groundwater resources.
Control industrial, commercial and residential activities
which impact negatively on groundwater quality.
Incorporate detail ed water quantity and quality considera-
tions into rezoning and variance decisions because of the
critical water supply probl ems which exist in most of the
study area. If rezoning and variance decisions result in
more intensive water usage than is currently anticipated,
costly water supply treatment systems (desalinization, for
example) may be required.
Encourage water conservation through public information
programs and require water-saving fixtures in new home con-
struction.
Continue public information and education programs to
enphasize the fragile nature of the area's water supply and
to foster cooperation in the solutions to those problens.
1-12
T O-Wi : [SOU
Southold, N.Y. 11971
(516) 765-1938
Appendix B
SOUTHOLD TOWN
WATER RESOURCES MANAGEMENT PROGRAM
GOALS
Groundwater Resource
The protection of the existing and future groundwater supply through
a combination of environmentally sensitive land use policies and
practices.
The provision of groundwater quality that meets, and where feasible,
exceeds the Federal, State and County drinking water standards.
The provision of sufficient quantity of high quality groundwater to
the highest projected population (year-round plus summer residents
or visitors) without resorting to the importation of water from
outside the borders of the Township of Southold.
Surface Water Resource
4. The protection of the quality of the Town's fresh surface water
resources such as the wetlands, ponds, and lakes.
OBJECTIVES
Groundwater Resource
1. To ensure that a sufficient quantity of potable watar is available
to every resident of the Town at a reasonable cost.
2. To ensure that neither existing nor future development causes the
pollution or contamination of the groundwater resource.
3. To ensure that new development does not diminish or deplete the
the quantity of the groundwater to an extent greater than the
recharge capability of the water budget within which the development
is located.
-2-
SOUTHOLD TOWN - WATER RESOURCES ~NAGEMENT PROGR~
4. To ensure that the overall population density and concentration
of commerce and industry, as provided for in the Comprehensive
Master Plan and the Zoning Map, do not exceed the capacity of
the groundwater resource within the respective water budget area.
Surface Waters
5. To ensure that neither the existing nor future development causes
the pollution or contamination of the surface water resources.
6. To minimize and where possible eliminate the causes of ground and
surface water pollution through changes in land use practices and
disposal of waste products.
CRITERIA
Designated recharge areas which contribute to the deep water recharge
of the groundwater shall be protected from any land uses or land use
practices that result in or cause point or non-point sources of
groundwater contamination.
2. Overall population density and concentration of industry and
commerce within the Township's borders shall not exceed the
carrying capacity of the groundwater resource with the respective
water budget areas that lie completely within the Township boundaries.
Population density and concentrations of industry and commerce'
within the water budget area that is shared with the Township of
Riverhead shall not create such a demand upon that budget area as
to create inter-governmental tensions between the two townships.
(The term "Carrying capacity" shall be defined in the STWRMP
document. The term "Water budget area" shall be defined by the
North Fork Water Supply Study by ERM).
3. Land uses or practices that are known point or non-point sources
of pollutants shall be either prohibited or subject to mitigative
measures that effectively prevent groundwater pollution.
4. Land uses and practices which must be allowed in order to provide
for a vital local economy, but which are also known to be potential
sources of point or non-point source pollutants shall be grouped
together geographically in concentrations sufficient to support
Surface Water Resources.
Land uses or practices that are known point or non-point sources of
pollutants shall be either prohibited or subject to mitigative
measures that will effectively prevent surface fresh water pollution
or destruction.
-3-
SOUTHOLD TOWN - WATER RESOURCES MANAGEMENT PROGRAM
RECOMMENDATIONS
General Recommendations:
1. Take preventive measures to minimize or eliminate additional
groundwater contamination.
2. In order to provide a safe, dependable water supply to Town residents,
a combination of individual home treatment units plus public water
systems should be implemented.
3. The Town of Southold should assume responsibility for implementing
and managing a water management program.
4. In order to operate a water management program, the Town can hire
its own staff, contract with the Village of Greenport or another
entity with expertise, or a combination of both.
5. In order to insure proper administration of home treatment units.
Home Treatment Unit Program should be established as part of the
Water Management Program.
6. In areas of existing development where groundwater is contaminated,
public water systems should be provided, if economically feasible.
If not feasible, Town services similar to those provided by the
Home Treatment Unit Program should be provided.
7. When new subdivision are proposed in areas of groundwater contamination
or potential contamination, connection to existing public water
supplies of adequate capacity are required. If such connections
are not available, the new public systems are to be paid for by
the developer and deeded either to a Town Water District or
other public entity.
8. If an existing home is sold in an area of suspected groundwater
contamination, the seller must arrange to sample and test the home
well and the results should be attached to the deed. If the water
quality does not meet standards, the current home owner or new
owner should be required to make provision to provide treatment
through the Water Management Program to provide a safe water
supply prior to the sale of the home.
Appendix C
Outline for Special Ground-water Protection Area Study
I. Identification of the Special Ground water Protection Areas (SGPAS)
o Definition of SGPA ~ Relationship of SGPA and Deep Recharge Area
o Study Area Boundaries
o Jurisdictions Within the SGPAS (Town, Village, C.E.A.'s, etc.)
II. Description of the SGPAS
o Land Use
o Land Ownership - Public vs. Private
o Zoning
o Land Subject to Future Development - Subdivisions that have been
filed.
o Population - Existing and Future
o Ground Water
-Hydrogeology
-Ground water Elevations (Glacial and the Potentimetric
Surface of the Magothy)
-Ground-water Pumpage
-Ground-water Quantity
-Ground-water Quality (Public Monitoring and Private Well
Analysis)
-Wellhead Protection Area Identification
-Sources of Ground-water Contamination
-Impacted Areas
o Surface Water Quality -Watershed Analysis
-Soils - Description and Analysis
-Slopes - Description and Analysis
-Sources of Surface Water Contamination
o Terrestrial Environment Characteristics
-Wetlands
-Vegetation
-Wildlife
-Significant Flora and Fauna
o Existing Water Supply Districts, Existing Sewer Districts and
Sewage Treatment Plants
o Historic and Archaeologic Resources
III. Consideration of Existing Plans Likely to Affect the SGPAS
IV. Ground-water Management Problems and Concern, by SGPA
o Existing Point Source Contamination
o Existing and Anticipated Nonpoint Source Contamination
o Problem Analysis
o Protection and Mitigation Priorities
V. Existing Controls and Ground-water Management
o Inventory and Assessment, including Watershed Management Rules
VI. Identification of Ground-water Protection and Mitigation
Opportunities and Appropriate Implementing Agencies
VII. Evaluation of Ground-water Protection and Mitigation Opportunities
and Proposed Actions
o Legal Requirements and/or Constraints
o Institutional Needs
o Manpower Requirements
o Estimated Capital or Operational Costs
o Political Feasibility
o Potential Trade-offs
VIII. Development of a Draft Ground-water Management Plan for Each SGPA
IX. Seek Coments on the Plan Through Consultation With
o SGPA Advisory Coancil
o Local, State and Federal officials
o The Public
X. Publish a Revised or Final Plan for Submission to NYSDEC
Appendix D
Special Ground-Water Protection Area
Advisory Council
Mailing List - Voting Members
Ted Burger
Nassau County Health Dept.
250 Old Country Road
Mineola, NY. 11501
(535-3642)
James Mulligan
Nassau County Dept. of
Public Works
Water Supply Unit
170 Cantiague Rock Road
Hicksville, NY 11801
Philip Barbato
N.Y.S. Dept. of Environmental
Conservation
Building #40 SUNY
Stony Brook, NY 11794
(751-7725)
Michael Burke
N.Y.S. Dept. of Health
Corning Tower
Gov. Rockefeller Empire
State Plaza
Albany, NY 12237
(518-474-5577)
Vince Vario
Nassau County Planning
Commission
222 Willis Avenue
Mineola, NY 11501
(535-5846)
George Proios
N.Y.S. Comm. on Water
Resource Needs of L.I.
N.Y.S. Office Building
Veterans Memorial Highway
Hauppauge, NY 11788
(360-6206)
Aldo Andreoli
S.C. Dept. of Health Serv.
225 Rabro Drive East
Hauppauge, NY 11788
(348-2782)
Joseph Baier
S.C. Dept. of Health Serv.
225 Rabro Drive East
Hauppauge, NY 11788
(348-2898)
Nancy Nagle Kelley
Group for America's
South Fork
P.O. Box 569
Bridgehampton, NY 11932
(537-1400)
Maryellen McNicholas
N.Y.S. Comm. on Water
Resource Needs of L.I.
N.Y.S. Office Building
Veterans Memorial Hwy.
Hauppauge, NY 11788
(Maryellen - 360-6206)
David Stern - 11 Middle Neck
Rd. Suite 213-Great Neck
11021 - 829-3368
Stuart Buckner/Elsa Brunn
Town of Islip - Dept. of
Environmental Control
577 Main Street
Islip, NY 11751
(224-5648)
Kenneth Feustel, Waterways
Management Supervisor
Town of Baby - Dept. of
Env. Control-281 Phelps Lane
North Babylon, NY 11703
(422-7640)
Voting Members
-2-
Andrew Walker, Director
Nature Conservancy
L.I. Chapter
Box 72, Lawrence Hill Rd.
Cold Spring Harbor, NY 11724
(367-3225)
Carole Swick
Town of Brookhaven
Dept. of Planning, Environ-
ment & Development
3233 Route 112
Medford, NY 11763
(451-6203)
Richard Hanley
Community Development
Town of Ruverhead
200 Howell Avenue
Riverhead, NY 11901
(727-3200, ext. 34)
Thomas Thorsen
Town of Southampton
Planning Dept.
Planning Director
Southampton Town Hall
116 Hampton Road
Southampton, NY 11968
(283-6000)
Margo Myles
Town of Huntington
Environmental Review Commission
100 Main Street - Dept. of Plan.
Huntington, NY 11743-6690
(351-3186)
Larry Penny
Town of East Hampton
Div. of Natural Resources
159 Pantigo Road
East Hampton, NY 11937
(267-8462)
Russell Barnett/A~y Knutson
Town of Smithtown
Dept. of Environmental
Protection
124 W. Main Street
Smithtown, NY 11787
(360-7514)
Kenneth Bergin
Town of North Hempstead
Dept. of Planning
220 Plandome Rd.-Town
Hall
Manhasset, NY 11030
(627-0590, ext. 380)
Joan Kesner
Town of Oyster Bay
150 Miller Place
Syosset, NY 11791
(921-7347)
Comm. of Planning
Town of N. Hempstead -
Planning
220 Plandome Road
Town Hall
Manhasset, NY 11030
(627-0590 ext. 382)
Special Ground-Water Protection Are~
Advisory Council
Mailing List - Non-Voting Members
Don Bingham, Sub District Chief
United States Geological
Survey
5 Aerial Way
Syosset, NY 11791
(938-8830)
Tom Doheny
Town of Hempstead
Dept. of Conservation &
Waterways
1 Parkside Drive
Pt. Lookout, NY 11569
(431-9200)
John Malleck
USEPA
Office of Groundwater Management
Rm. 805
26 Federal Plaza
New York, NY 10278
(212) (264-5635)
Jack Follis
Nassau County Planning
Commission
222 Willis Avenue
Mineola, NY 11501
(535-5848)
Sarah Meyland
Suffolk County Water Authority
Sunrise Highway Corner Pond Road
Oakdale, NY 11769
(589-5200)
Mitchell Pally
Long Island Association
80 Hauppauge Road
Commack, NY 11725
(499-4400)
Valerie Scopaz
Town Planner-Planning Bd.
Southold Town Hall
53095 Main Road
Southold, NY 11971
(765-1938)
Jeffrey Fullmer
Long Island Citizen's
Campaign for the Environ.
10 Lawrence Ave. Suite 4
Smithtown, NY 11787
(360-0480)
Edward Kaplan
Brookhaven National Lab
Bldg. 830
Upton, NY 11973
(282-2007)
Darrel Kost
NYS Dept. of Transportation
NYS Office Bldg.
Veterans Memorial Highway
Hauppauge, NY 11788
(360-6677)
Thomas A. Reamon, P.E.
Assoc. Engg. of Public
Water Supply Protect.
State of New York
Dept. of Health
Empire State Plaza
Corning Tower - Room 478
Albany, NY 12237
(518) 473-4641
Robert Villa, Chief Eng.
S.C. Dept of Health Svcs.
Rabro Drive
Hauppauge, NY 11787
(348-2703)
Mailing List - Non-Voting Members
William j. Sanok
Agricultural Program Leader
Cornell Cooperative Extension
246 Griffing Avenue
Riverhead, New York 11901
727-7850