The Town of Oyster Bay heard a proposal at its Dec. 10 town board meeting for a $13.8 million bond for the Locust Valley Water District. The funds would support five capital improvement projects aimed at ensuring water quality and infrastructure reliability.
Michael Ingham, an attorney representing the water district, presented the application alongside several district officials, including Chairwoman Patricia Peterson, Treasurer Charles Savinetti, Superintendent Dominic Scaparrotta and Business Manager Jennifer Van Gelder, and H2M architect Jessica DeMarco. Ingham highlighted the district’s mission to provide clean water to more than 7,500 residents as well as numerous businesses, schools and municipal buildings, while managing increasing regulatory demands.
A primary focus of the proposed bond is addressing the presence of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances, or PFAS, and perfluorooctanoic acid, or PFOA, in public water supplies, so-called “forever chemicals” that have prompted stricter water quality standards. Both the state Department of Health and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency have recently lowered maximum contaminant levels, requiring costly upgrades to filtration systems.
“These are very, very low numbers,” Ingham said, referring to the EPA’s four-parts-per-trillion limit for PFAS established earlier this year.
The district plans to install a granular activated carbon filtration system at Well No. 9, a project estimated to cost $7 million. Granular activated carbon is made from organic materials like coconut shells or coal that are heated to increase the surface area of the carbon they contain. The activated carbon traps chemicals that pass through the filter, and can remove organic chemicals, chemicals that cause odors or tastes, and some radioactive materials.
The bond also includes funding for four other projects:
Water storage tank rehabilitation: The district plans to recoat the tank at Well No. 8 to address the degradation of its exterior coating, originally applied in 2003, for an estimated cost of $3.47 million.
Francis Pond water main replacement: A leaking water main will be replaced with a new line, at a cost of $640,000.
Backup power generators: New natural-gas generators will be installed at two pumping stations to ensure operational continuity during power outages. This project has an estimated cost of $1.19 million.
Distribution system improvements: A hydraulic model will guide the replacement of aging water mains, targeting areas with frequent breaks or high demand. This initiative is estimated at $1.5 million.
The water district is pursuing grant funding and litigation to offset the costs. Under new state protocols, the district has applied for an Intermunicipal Water Infrastructure Grant, which could cover up to 60 percent of the treatment system cost for Well No. 9.
Additionally, the district has joined a class-action lawsuit against PFAS manufacturers, including 3M, DuPont, and Tyco, seeking compensation for contamination.
“Recoveries from the class-action settlements and grant awards are expected to reduce the district’s ultimate bonding amount,” Ingham explained.
Legal actions involving another contaminant, 1,4-dioxane, are also progressing. This chemical, primarily affecting Long Island because of its history of industrial activities, is the subject of lawsuits against manufacturers such as Dow Chemical.
The town board expressed support for the district’s efforts to ensure safe drinking water, but acknowledged the financial burden on local taxpayers.
“We are all in favor of safe drinking water,” Supervisor Joseph Saladino said. “But these regulatory changes come at a great cost to water districts, even with grant funding.”
Discussion also touched on the broader implications of federal rulings and regulatory policies. Ingham noted that while recent Supreme Court decisions like Chevron v. NRDC have raised questions about the authority of regulatory agencies, they are unlikely to impact water quality standards.
The Locust Valley Water District’s proactive approach underscores the complexities of maintaining public water systems amid evolving regulations and emerging contaminants. With grant applications and litigation outcomes pending, the district remains “cautiously optimistic,” according to Ingham, about reducing the financial impact on residents.
The town board is expected to vote on the bond at the next meeting, scheduled for Jan. 7.
