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Fair Research finds bays are polluted
Study determines that sewage degrades quality in water adjoining Baldwin
Researchers at Stony Brook University have confirmed what many Long Islanders say they already know: the Western Bays are polluted.
According to preliminary data released by researchers at Stony Brook’s School of Marine and Atmospheric Studies last week, the water in the bays between East Rockaway and Long Beach — an area that includes the Reynolds Channel — have an abundance of nitrogen, which fuels the growth of seaweed.
The nitrogen comes from the treated effluent discharged from four sewage treatme nt plants in the area, which state and county officials say release 64.5 million gallons of wastewater into the bays each day. Researchers also discovered contaminants found in cosmetics, fabric softener and disinfectants, and they determined that the effluent does not flush out into the ocean quickly and often gets stuck in the bays.
The research began last August, after State Assemblyman Harvey Weisenberg (D-Long Beach) and State Sen. Dean Skelos (R-Rockville Centre) secured $600,000 to fund what they called the most comprehensive study of the bays ever conducted.
Researchers hope not only to measure the contaminants in the Western Bays, but to improve the water quality. They said they are examining historical data as well as the various contaminants, sediments, runoff, marine life and water depth. Ultimately, the goal is to pinpoint exactly what is being released into the bays and devise ways to make them cleaner.
Researchers said that the two-year study would be completed by late 2012. The preliminary findings were presented to local officials at a meeting in Mineola on Feb. 10.
“Although we’ve known that there’s pollution in the bay, we desperately needed this scientific evidence so that the county can secure federal funding to commence cleanup,” Weisenberg said.
The findings came as no surprise to many, since New York state has deemed the water body impaired, said West Pine Street resident Scott Bochner, who posted several videos on YouTube documenting illegal discharge from the Bay Park Sewage Treatment Plant and who has been calling on officials to address the issue.
