Water pollution district gets $5M grant

Richard Jacques

The Great Neck Water Pollution Control District has received a $5 million grant from the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation towards their planned plant expansion and upgrade.

“It’s what the EPA and the state have decided is important in order to improve water quality standards,” said Commissioner Jane Rebhuhn. “On behalf of the taxpayers, we greatly appreciate receiving this grant from such a highly competitive program.”

The three-year project, which began in June, will redirect water flow from an existing village plant, which will be decommissioned, to upgraded facilities located on the border of the villages of Kensington and Great Neck on East Shore Road.

The grant, under the state’s Water Quality Improvement Program, will assist the district in complying with new DEC regulations intended to lower the total amount of nitrogen that is discharged into Long Island Sound while eliminating chlorine that is currently used for waste treatment at the facility.

Nitrogen is the primary pollutant that causes a low dissolved oxygen condition called hypoxia. The condition fuels the growth of algae, which leads to lower fish populations and other environmental concerns.

“As algae decomposes, it absorbs oxygen from the surrounding water which deprives aquatic life of oxygen,” said Rebhuhn.

A total maximum daily load analysis must be undertaken for water bodies that do not meet state water quality standards, under the Federal Clean Water Act. In 2001, the EPA approved the Long Island Sound for implementation.

In the case of Long Island Sound, TMDL analysis shows a need for a reduction of nitrogen because New York’s dissolved oxygen standard of 5.0 mg/l is violated each summer in the bottom waters of the western half of the Sound.

The capital project being carried out is one of Long Island’s most unique efforts to meet the environmental standards of state and federal governments.

State Assemblywoman Michelle Schimel said the plant will provide financial relief to the Great Neck community, “who have always fought for the right environmental decision when it comes to Manhasset Bay and local government control.”

Town of North Hempstead Supervisor Jon Kaiman played a key role in landing the grant, the largest award to any of the applicants in the state, according to the Great Neck Water Pollution Control District.

“The Town of North Hempstead really stepped up to help the district,” said Great Neck Water Pollution Control spokesman David Chauvin.

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