Huntington Receives $1M To Keep Waters Clean

TOWN OF HUNTINGTON, NY — The Town of Huntington received $1 million in federal funding to keep its waters clean, U.S. Congressman Nick LaLota (R — Suffolk County), who secured the funding, announced.

The funds will be split evenly between the installation of microturbines at the Huntington Sewer District Wastewater Treatment Plant and for flood mitigation in the Huntington Sewer District.

LaLota, a lifelong Long Islander and St. Anthony's High School graduate, said he was "proud" to secure $1 million for the Town of Huntington to keep Huntington Harbor waters "clean and safe."

"I appreciate the cooperation and partnership of [Huntington] Supervisor [Ed] Smyth in protecting our critical natural resources," LaLota said in a news release. "Ensuring Long Island families have access to clean and safe water will always be one of my priorities. I will continue to fight to make sure Long Islanders have a federal government that works for them, not against them, and delivering funding for vital infrastructure projects is part of this mission."

Smyth said his administration is focused on maintaining and strengthening the Town of Huntington's infrastructure.

"Congressman LaLota's support of these initiatives on Capitol Hill helps keep local real estate taxes low, securing funds through federal aid," Smyth said.

The $500K for the Huntington Sewer District will allow for the installation of methane-powered microturbines at the Huntington Sewer District Wastewater Treatment Plant, according to officials. The Huntington Sewer District Wastewater Treatment Plant currently vents and flares a portion of the methane gas that results naturally from the biological decomposition of liquid waste products.

The methane can be used as a "high-quality renewable energy source" if captured and diverted to two gas turbines that are "quiet and efficient," according to officials. The microturbines can allow the Huntington Sewer District to "significantly offset" annual energy costs, lawmakers said. The turbines will also give the sewer district the potential to become a net energy supplier to the LIPA power grid during periods of peak demand, officials said.

Another $500K in funding for the Huntington Sewer Line Extension project will provide flood resiliency to protect and maintain the operation of the treatment plant in the event of flooding; maintaining treatment during flooding will also prevent water quality impacts to the marine surface waters in Huntington Harbor, authorities said.

The Huntington Sewer District wastewater treatment plant has an average daily flow limit of 2.6 million gallons per day. The district serves an area of more than 900 acres. Wastewater from the treatment plant is discharged through an outfall in Huntington Harbor, which is classified as SA by the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation — indicating the best usage for shellfishing for market purposes, swimming, and fishing. Portions of the treatment plant site are in a FEMA National Flood Hazard map as AE and most of the other portions of the treatment plant are in an area classified with a 0.2% annual chance flood hazard, officials said.

LaLota previously secured $40M for the Long Island Sound, according to the release.