Senator Martins Speaks WITH Community Groups About Protecting Long Island’s Water Supply

     Senator Jack M. Martins (R-7th Senate District) recently joined with members of Residents For a More Beautiful Port Washington, local officials, water providers, and community groups to discuss aquifer protection.  The meeting was held in response to a plan put forth by the New York City Department of Environmental Protection to reopen 23 shuttered wells in Queens and draw approximately 33 million gallons of water a day from Long Island’s drinking water supply.  

     Senator Martins updated the group about legislation he is sponsoring to ensure that a full environmental review is undertaken before the City can reopen the wells.  Given that reactivating these wells after years of inactivity could significantly alter flow patterns, cause saltwater intrusion, and create other issues which impact Long Island’s sole-source aquifer, a study is needed to ensure that our water supply will be unharmed, before the wells are turned on. 

     The legislation (S4214) would consider any public supply well located in a county with a population greater than two million that has been inactive for more than 2 years to be considered abandoned.  Any existing state permits for those wells would also be invalidated.  No permits could be issued or renewed to reopen these wells without a full review under the State environmental quality review act, with the DEC as the lead agency, being undertaken to determine the impact of reopening the wells.

     Senator Martins is pictured as he updates the group about his legislation.