Suffolk County’s recent award of $20 million in state funding to upgrade failing septic systems marks another major milestone in the long fight to protect our drinking water and restore the health of our bays
This investment—part of Governor Kathy Hochul’s broader clean water initiative—reinforces what we at Save The Great South Bay (STGSB) have long recognized: modernizing Long Island’s wastewater infrastructure is essential to reversing nitrogen pollution and safeguarding the Great South Bay for generations to come.
Why Nitrogen Pollution Matters
More than 360,000 homes across Suffolk County still rely on outdated cesspools and basic septic systems. These systems allow nitrogen-rich wastewater to seep into our sole source aquifer—the underground drinking water supply that sustains every family, business, and community on Long Island. That same nitrogen travels through groundwater into our creeks and bays, fueling harmful algal blooms, depleting oxygen, and degrading vital eelgrass and shellfish habitats.
As the Great South Bay News Article highlights, Long Island’s unique dependence on a single aquifer system means that every septic leak and every nitrogen molecule counts
The choices we make beneath our feet determine the future of our waters.
Following the Money and the Momentum
Governor Hochul’s new legislation (S8241-A/A8807) allocates $30 million statewide, with $20 million dedicated to Suffolk County to incentivize homeowners to install nitrogen-reducing systems. These innovative systems can reduce nitrogen pollution by up to 70% and provide rebates of up to 75% of the installation cost, making them a practical and powerful solution.
At Save The Great South Bay, we are tracking these developments closely—from large-scale sewering projects like the Oakdale Section 1A referendum in December 2025 to individual household conversions supported through the Suffolk County Septic Improvement Program (SIP). Each upgrade brings us one step closer to a cleaner bay and a healthier aquifer.
Innovation Beyond Sewers
While sewering remains vital in high-density areas, not every community can or should connect to a centralized system. That’s where Innovative and Alternative Onsite Wastewater Treatment Systems (IA/OWTS) come in. These advanced systems treat wastewater right on-site, reducing nitrogen before it ever reaches groundwater.
Save The Great South Bay is working alongside local partners—including Suffolk County Department of Health, Cornell Cooperative Extension, Stony Brook University, and Operation SPLASH—to promote these technologies and ensure that state and county programs prioritize high-impact areas: the creeks and tributaries feeding directly into the Great South Bay.
Restoring the Bay, One Upgrade at a Time
Our organization continues to advocate for equitable access, transparent reporting, and data-driven planning as these funds are deployed. Through our Creek Defender Program and upcoming South Shore Bays Report Card, we are measuring water quality improvements in real time—tracking dissolved oxygen, turbidity, salinity, and chlorophyll-a to quantify the environmental return on these investments.
As Executive Director Robyn Silvestri stated in Newsday,
“Replacing old cesspools and septic systems with modern, nitrogen-reducing technology is one of the most important things we can do to protect our drinking water and bring back the bay.”
Get Involved
Every homeowner has a role to play in this clean water movement. Visit the Suffolk County Reclaim Our Water program to learn how you can upgrade your system—and join Save The Great South Bay in advocating for smart sewering, innovative technology, and sustained state investment in our island’s most precious resource.
Together, we can make nitrogen pollution a problem of the past—and restore the Great South Bay to the thriving, living estuary it once was.