"Nassau County - Long Island, New York"

As you know, the Bay Park Sewage Plant is an integral part of Nassau County’s infrastructure. Yet, for many years the plant has not been a good neighbor to the residents of Bay Park. Your concerns about the plant are a big reason that I was elected. The maintenance and improvement of the Bay Park plant is of paramount importance to me as your Legislator, and I have been working with county officials and the county Department of Public Works to expedite needed improvements to the plant.

Lately, there has been concern about the release of solid matter into Reynolds Channel. This is unacceptable. To correct this problem, I joined my colleagues in the Nassau Legislature on Monday October 25, 2010 to approve a new upgrade to the plant to eliminate this problem. I approved the replacement of five “top skimmer flight chains” for all of the plant’s “sludge thickening tanks” that will ensure that the issue is rectified immediately and all DEC requirements are met or exceeded with regards to solids being released from the plant. The maintenance work is already underway and will be completed as soon as possible.

In addition, I am meeting regularly with the Public Works Department to keep tabs on what is going on. We must hold their feet to the fire.

The Bay Park plant serves the sewerage needs of thousands of county residents, and that purpose must be continued – but not at the expense of the people who live in Bay Park and who use the surrounding fields, playground and waterways. We’ve made great strides in improving the performance of this plant, but the plant cannot be permitted to deteriorate the quality of life of its neighbors.

If you have any comments or questions about the work being done to eliminate this problem, please feel free to call or email my office at 571-6207 or hkopel@nassaucountyny.gov.

Bay Park Sewage Treatment Plant Update