The following was published on page A37 of Newsday on September 16th, 2013.
Recognition should be given to the environmental community for its effort to bring awareness to Nassau and Suffolk counties’ declining water quality [“New plan to cut nitrogen pollution,” News, Sept. 11]. The effort is critical because much of the water-quality decline we’re seeing is from the 1980s. We haven’t yet begun to see the true impact of development in Nassau and Suffolk from the last 20 years.
Sadly, we’ve known since 1978 what it takes to protect our drinking water, since the Long Island Regional Planning Board conducted its 208 study, a comprehensive test of the Island’s aquifery.
Unfortunately, many of the land-use recommendations fell by the wayside thanks to the local desire for short-term economic growth taking precedence over long-lasting regional planning. As harmful algal blooms become the norm and more density is given without the necessary wastewater infrastructure, our water quality will continue to worsen until meaningful action is taken.
Rich Murdocco, Syosset
