It Takes an Island to Protect Our Drinking Water
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The New York City Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) is considering allowing New York City to renew a permit to re-open four wells in Queens for “emergency purposes,” such as a drought. All of these wells connect to the Lloyd Aquifer, which is the only source of water on Long Island for more than a million people. The concern is that, if these wells are opened and the estimated 68 million gallons a day are pumped, saltwater might intrude and/or toxic plumes could be pulled into the Lloyd. Either case would render the water unusable for generations.
County Executive Laura Curran speaks to concerns over New York City’s desire to access Long Island’s water supply during a press conference on the front steps of the Nassau County Legislative Building.County Executive Laura Curran speaks to concerns over New York City’s desire to access Long Island’s water supply during a press conference on the front steps of the Nassau County Legislative Building. County Executive Laura Curran speaks to concerns over New York City’s desire to access Long Island’s water supply during a press conference on the front steps of the Nassau County Legislative Building.County Executive Laura Curran speaks to concerns over New York City’s desire to access Long Island’s water supply during a press conference on the front steps of the Nassau County Legislative Building.On January 25, a press conference was held on the steps of the Nassau County Legislative Building, where Nassau County Executive Laura Curran, Legislator Delia DeRiggi-Whitton, other elected officials and advocates announced a letter they all signed, which was addressed to Governor Andrew Cuomo. The letter stresses the importance of waiting until the Independent Sustainability Study is completed before considering whether the Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) should approve the permit request.
County Executive Laura Curran speaks to concerns over New York City’s desire to access Long Island’s water supply during a press conference on the front steps of the Nassau County Legislative Building.
County Executive Laura Curran speaks to concerns over New York City’s desire to access Long Island’s water supply during a press conference on the front steps of the Nassau County Legislative Building.
Legislator DeRiggi-Whitton is proud to be part of this important coalition of dozens of elected officials representing districts across Nassau County, water suppliers, environmental advocates and other concerned organizations. Mindy Germain is leading this initiative. She is the Lead Organizer for the Western Nassau County Aquifer Committee, Residents Forward Executive Director and Port Washington Water District Commissioner.
“Of all the initiatives I have fought for over the years as an elected official, there is nothing more important than this one,” Legislator DeRiggi-Whitton said. “It is inconceivable that the DEC could allow the City to re-open wells without first knowing whether pumping tens of millions of gallons of water daily would have adverse effects that Long Island would have to deal with for a lifetime. I have and will continue to work closely with Residents Forward on this critical initiative and others that could pose a threat to our freshwater supply.”
Spearheaded by Governor Cuomo, the science-based Independent Sustainability Study will determine whether drawing tens of millions of gallons of water a day beyond its current use for Long Islanders will cause saltwater intrusion or draw toxic plumes into the Lloyd Aquifer.
“Long Island cannot afford the ambiguity surrounding the impacts of pumping 68 million gallons more water per day from our already strained and stressed aquifer,” Germain said. “We must continue to fight to prevent the DEC from issuing this permit until the study data is available. New York City has other options. We do not.”
The coalition intends to continue to be fierce stewards of Long Island’s drinking water, ensuring it is managed based on independent scientific research.
Using funding secured by Legislator DeRiggi-Whitton, repairs to Baxter’s Pond are now nearly complete. Pavers have been replaced and reset, new benches and garbage receptacles were recently installed, lighting was improved, and some trees were pruned. Legislator DeRiggi-Whitton is gratified that she had an opportunity to partner with the Baxter’s Pond Foundation to beautify this wonderful community park.
Before students returned to class for the 2023-24 school year, Legislator DeRiggi-Whitton partnered with the Nassau County PBA to distribute more than 600 free backpacks loaded with supplies. Hundreds of children received filled backpacks during the drive-through/walk-up event that took place outside of Glen Cove High School. Thank you to the Glen Cove PD PBA and all our volunteers for your assistance with an event that has become a much-anticipated annual tradition!
A $65,000 Nassau County Community Development Block Grant was applied toward renovating basketball courts at the Glen Cove City Stadium. Renovations included stripping and resurfacing the asphalt, purchasing six backboards, and replacing rims and nets. The Glen Cove Community Development Agency helped to oversee the project. 
To make it easier for residents to contact the Nassau County Police Department in the event of an emergency, the Legislature’s Rules Committee, of which Legislator DeRiggi-Whitton is a member, approved a contract with a vendor that will install a system making it possible for residents to text 911 in addition to calling. These services will be especially valuable for people who are deaf or hard of hearing; have limited English proficiency; or need to reach authorities discreetly, such as in an active shooter, hostage, or domestic violence crisis.
On November 20, 2022, Corinne Kaufman’s beautiful granddaughter Paige Gibbons passed away from an accidental fentanyl overdose just four days after her 19th birthday. Kaufman channeled her grief by launching “Families Against Fentanyl,” which advocates for getting Narcan kits in every middle and high school nurse’s office and making fentanyl test strips readily available.
The Nassau County Legislature has allocated $1.55 million in American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funding toward efforts by water suppliers to remove emerging contaminants and toxins from our drinking water. This funding will be drawn from $6 million in federal funding already dedicated to support an array of water quality initiatives, and each eligible public and private water supplier will receive a $50,000 grant in support of their efforts.