All Suffolk County voters have to remember to flip their ballots over and Vote Yes for Clean Water!
This relates to Proposition Two on the back of our ballots this November. It asks Suffolk County voters whether they support a 0.125% increase in sales tax to create a long-term funding source for septic and sewer upgrades. Our outdated septic and sewer systems leak fecal pollution into our sandy soils and into our groundwater, which is our drinking source. Polluted groundwater travels out to surrounding water bodies and causes algal blooms, fish kills, decreased oxygen, and declining shellfish populations. We think the tax increase is a very small price to pay -- $0.12 on a $100 purchase -- for clean water.
You might be asking, aren’t there existing grant funds for these upgrades? Yes, but there is a bottleneck. We have over 380,000 outdated systems in Suffolk County, and we’ve only made a drop in the bucket of upgrades since the Suffolk County Septic Improvement Program was introduced in 2017. This program needs to be scaled up and implemented more quickly so we can see a real difference in our waters.
What's the alternative? If we don't pass this ballot referendum, we will miss a huge opportunity. Not only will we miss out on the billions of dollars raised through the sales tax, we miss out on potential matches. Passing this referendum would let us qualify for state and federal funding to make an even bigger difference for water quality!
Without this referendum, homeowners also risk paying for upgrades out of pocket. Failing septics and cesspools cause many problems for homeowners like water backing up, slow drainage or clogs, standing water or foul odors near the drainfield. If the issues persist, then a homeowner may need to replace the system. A tradition system can cost between $6,000 - $8,000 according to this Suffolk County website, while the new nitrogen-reducing systems cost upwards of $20,000. As of July 2021, all new home and commercial construction require these advanced systems, and so do certain additions to single-family homes.
Clean water is vital for everyone, but especially on the East End where we rely on it for our way of life. We need to pass Prop 2 to save our waters!
To learn more, visit: www.voteyesprop2.com