Thursday, October 1, 2026
Long Island is known for its beautiful beaches, blue skies and sandy shores. But living on an island also means living with the realities of nature. From droughts and extreme heat to powerful storms and flooding, our communities are increasingly being reminded that we can’t take our natural resources for granted.
As a child, I visited St. Thomas, in the U.S. Virgin Islands, each year, and I saw firsthand what it was like to lack reliable access to water. I remember turning on the faucet and having nothing come out. Like Long Island, St. Thomas is surrounded by water but has a finite supply of groundwater. Water use was scheduled, and residents relied on rainwater collection and desalination to supplement their supply.
That experience stuck with me, shaping the way I understand just how precious and essential water is. Today those memories continue to motivate my work to protect Long Island’s water supply, promote conservation and make sure that future generations have access to clean, reliable water.
Handling water scarcity is critical, because we need clean water for drinking, food production and our overall survival. This summer, Nassau and Suffolk counties have seen state drought warnings due to below-normal precipitation. Last month, the Suffolk County Water Authority asked residents to stop watering their lawns, warning that its infrastructure was reaching maximum capacity under the current combination of drought and heat. According to the U.S. Geological Survey, Long Islanders use an average of 140 gallons of water a day per person, about 55 percent more than the national average.
Long Island relies almost entirely on groundwater for potable use, making it a requirement that water conservation becomes a priority, to mitigate risks in future droughts. But many people are unaware of how finite the resource is, which is why I introduced bill S10395.
This legislation would protect our resources by requiring the state to develop a public-education program for groundwater-dependent communities that explains why reducing unnecessary water use is essential and must be put into practice. The bill would also mandate the use of smart controllers for automatic irrigation systems, adjusting watering schedules based on weather conditions. Additionally, it would update water conservation guidelines every five years to reflect best irrigation practices, and encourage rebate programs to help residents cover the cost of smart-irrigation technology. Together these measures would reduce waste and protect our water supply.
Water scarcity isn’t our only concern. On Long Island we know that periods of dry weather can quickly give way to intense rainfall and flooding. We must recognize that protecting our coastal communities means preserving the waterways and ecosystems that help absorb excess rainfall and reduce flooding. That’s why I fought to secure funding for the South Shore Estuary Reserve, which supports efforts to improve water quality, strengthen our shoreline against the impacts of climate change, and advance environmental education and economic development.
We also need to ensure that our investments in infrastructure work alongside these natural defenses. The Bay Park Conveyance Project is an important example of this approach. By reducing excess nitrogen in the Western Bays, the project will help restore and strengthen marshlands so they can better function as natural sponges, holding excess water and gradually releasing it over time. For communities like Baldwin Harbor, these investments demonstrate how improving water quality, restoring natural resources and strengthening infrastructure can work together to build a stronger Long Island.
These are investments in the future of our communities, which is why securing funding for flood mitigation was also a priority for me in this year’s state budget. Throughout the budget session, I led efforts in the Senate chamber to secure $3.5 million for a Flooding Mitigation System in the Village of Freeport. Freeport’s waterfront location makes it particularly desirable, but also, unfortunately, vulnerable to flooding. Residents shouldn’t have to wonder whether the next major storm will damage their homes or disrupt local businesses.
We can’t control when the next drought, storm or hurricane will arrive. We can, however, control whether our communities are prepared to meet those moments.
I will continue to fight to bring these investments home to the 6th Senate District, because preparing for the future is my responsibility to the families, businesses and communities that call Long Island home.
Siela Bynoe represents the 6th State Senate District.
