While Nassau County Lidia with the approval of the Provisional Law to finance the Federal Government, Long Island runs out of 110 million dollars for assigned projects, including millions for water and infrastructure supply projects.
The Congress approved the expenditure measure on March 14 by 54 votes in favor and 46 against to guarantee the continuity of the financing of government agencies. However, neither the proposed assignments nor the funds that the congressmen had requested for projects in their districts were financed, which will have generalized consequences in Nassau.
“Drinking water projects were eliminated from this year’s budget by the Republican majority,” said American representative Tom Suozzi. «It is unfortunate that drinking water projects in my district, which would have supported the construction of drinking water infrastructure, wastewater and rainwater, as well as the protection of water quality, have been canceled. It makes no sense!
All subsidies for projects were proposed in 2024 with the forecast that were included in the 2025 fiscal year budget.
The loss of these federal subsidies for water projects occurs at a time when Long Island’s villages and water districts work to comply with the new federal water quality guidelines of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).
These guidelines require that drinking water contains less than 4 parts per billion prefusion or polyfluoroalquilated substances, also known as PFAS, by 2029. These synthetic chemicals, which have detrimental effects on human health, were previously regulated to 10 ppt in drinking water.
“PFAS contamination causes serious health problems, including cancer links, liver damage and immune system disorders,” said American representative Laura Gillen.
«My voters should not be exposed to these carcinogenic chemicals in the water supply every time they open the tap of their house. In Congress, I will continue to promote federal investment in the State Rotary Fund for Clean Water and the Subsidies Program of the Financing and Innovation Law on Water Infrastructure, and I will work in a bipartisan way to ensure that the inhabitants of Long Island have access to the clean water they deserve ».
Federal Lack of Subsidy
The town of Sands Point He would have received $ 1,105,800 to build a granular activated carbon treatment plant for PFAS in two of its wells, as well as for the replacement of other well pumps, the impact of one well and the drilling of another. The town approved the inspection of one of its wells in February and recently received $ 5 million from the State for the same project.
The town of Williston Park He would have received $ 1,105,800 for the implementation of the same CAG filters in one of their three wells and thus reduce the levels of pfa in their water to undetectable levels. The people plan to implement GAC filters in all their wells to comply with the new federal guidelines, which motivated the Board to increase the local water rate by 33 % on March 1.
The mayor of Williston Park, Paul Ehrbar, expressed his disappointment for the lack of federal subsidy for the people, but that this would not affect their plans to implement the filtration system or the increase in the rate. Ehrbar said that, according to their knowledge, the other subsidies that the people had requested for the filtration project have not been affected by the moment.
The town of Manorhaven He planned to receive $ 1,105,800 for the rehabilitation of his 60 -year -old sewerage system, which would contribute to prevent system failures and to maintain environmental health.
The water pollution control district of Great Neck He would have received $ 1,105,800 for improvements at his Steamboat pumping station, which include more reliable alarm systems, low consumption pumps and the reduction of structures that obstruct the view of residents to the neighboring park.
The water pollution control district of Port Washington He would probably have received $ 1,105,800 to modernize wastewater pumping stations. The two pumping stations that would be modernized handle approximately 70% of the flow rate of the district, with a capacity of 3 million gallons per day.
The water and firefighters district of Westbury He had received $ 1,105,800 to design, build and install new treatment plants for the elimination of 1.4-Dioxan from the critical supply of drinking water. CDC calls “1.4-dioxan” a transparent liquid with a slight pleasant smell that can be considered carcinogenic for humans.
It should be noted that Port Washington and Westbury received $ 5 million each for water projects by the State in January.
The town of Baxter Estates She had been designated to receive $ 745,000 to address coastal erosion and stabilize the stretch of Shore Road adjacent to Manhasset Bay.
The town of Flower Hill He would have received $ 80,000 for a sewage study on the viability of connecting homes to the Port Washington Water Control Control District.
The water district of Bethpage He would have received $ 1,105,800 to install permanent advanced oxidation systems with the capacity to treat the maximum concentration of 1.4-Dioxan present in the column. The Bethpage Community Park is currently in the second phase of cleaning of the ancient sedimentation ponds of Northrop Grumman.
The water district of Hicksville He indicated that he would have used $ 1,105,800 as part of his emerging pollutant treatment project in the Boca of the Plant 11. Superintendent Paul Granger indicated that the project has an estimated cost of $ 13.6 million and that federal funds would have been used to compensate for the impact on taxpayers. He also indicated that the district has received $ 36.7 million in state and federal subsidies specifically for the treatment of emerging pollutants since 2020.
The town of Farmingdale He planned to receive $ 1,105,800, which would have been used to reduce the cost of building a new underground tank. The Villa expressed its disappointment and that it will request funds again in the future, but there is no guarantee that they are rewarded.
The current federal budget will continue to finance government agencies until September 30.
