Legislators Leslie Kennedy and Tom Cilmi, joined local civic groups and environmental activists, as Suffolk County Executive Steve Bellone signed off on the legislation to fund and install an advanced on-site wastewater treatment system in Lake Ronkonkoma County Park. The Introductory Resolution 1113, to provide funding for the wastewater treatment system, was unanimously approved by the Suffolk County Legislature last Tuesday. The funding for these improvements, an expected $407,000 needed to install the new system, will come from the New Enhanced Suffolk County Water Quality Protection Program.
The updated wastewater treatment system will be able to remove 2,100 pounds of nitrogen per year, working to protect Long Island’s water source. The new wastewater treatment system is part of a multi-pronged initiative to clean up and revitalize Lake Ronkonkoma and the surrounding area.
“One of the issues that I have been advocating for years has been our declining water quality and the increasing amount of nitrogen loadings into our water, including Lake Ronkonkoma. We have been working closely with members of the community, including the Lake Ronkonkoma Improvement Group, for several months and have made significant progress on this issue. The installation of this advanced wastewater treatment system shows that we stand united with the residents of Lake Ronkonkoma and committed to restoring and protecting this lake.” – Suffolk County Executive Steve Bellone
The installation of the Norweco Hydro Kinetic wastewater treatment system at Lake Ronkonkoma County Park is similar to the Suffolk’s Meschutt County Park installation that was completed in Spring 2016. When operational, it will treat in excess of 1,500 gallons of wastewater per day. The system is built to settle out solid waste, denitrify the liquid waste and disperse the treated liquids to the surrounding area through a leaching system. The effluent will be monitored the Suffolk County Department of Health Services to ensure that denitrification goals are being met.The system is expected to be installed at Lake Ronkonkoma County park by this Summer.
“It is vitally important that we install this new wastewater treatment system in our county park. Lake Ronkonkoma is a beautiful lake, but it will only remain beautiful if we work to preserve it. We are so fortunate to have such stunning landscapes here in Suffolk County,.. We must continue to install these new wastewater treatment systems for the good of our island and our sole source aquifer that provides all our drinking water, it is the best thing we can do for the environment and our own health. Hopefully grants will be accepted for two additional nitrogen reduction systems in the Town of Islip Park and the Town of Brookhaven Park surrounding the lake.” – Legislator Leslie Kennedy.
The Suffolk County’s Reclaim Our Water initiative, which includes the improvements at Lake Ronkonkoma, has secured close to $400 million in funding for the largest sewer expansion in the County since the 1970s. The 2015 Suffolk County Comprehensive Water Resources Management Plan is also part of the initiative, providing critical recommendations on how to manage and protect the region’s water supply.
For more information on the Lake Ronkonkoma initiatives at and the County’s ongoing Reclaim Our Water initiative, log on towww.suffolkcountyny.gov or www.facebook.com/stevebellone.
For more information about this and other events in the community, please contact the office of Legislator Leslie Kennedy at (631)-854-3735 or visit the Facebook page at facebook.com/LegislatorLeslieKennedy.