'First Flush' For Westhampton Beach Village's New Sewer Connection

WESTHAMPTON BEACH, NY — After years of planning, Westhampton Beach Village Mayor Maria Moore and the Westhampton Beach village board achieved what others have only dreamt about — bringing a sewer connection to the downtown business district.

On Friday, a "First Flush" ceremony was held at the Westhampton Free Library, with village officials, Suffolk County Executive Steve Bellone, Suffolk County Legislator Bridget Fleming, New York State Assemblyman Fred Thiele and Southampton Town Supervisor Jay Scheiderman, among many others, present for the momentous event.

The "First Flush" event celebrated the completion of the long-awaited project connecting the village's business district to the county’s wastewater treatment plant at Frances S. Gabreski Airport. The sewer district connection will allow for the Westhampton Beach downtown to continue to expand and attract new businesses, including restaurants, as well as create apartments where none were previously able to exist.

The connection works to protect both the quality of water, by preventing nitrogen from entering the groundwater, and downtown vibrancy, officials said.

"This is an important project for the village, both for the environment and for downtown revitalization," Moore has long maintained. "It will eliminate approximately 5,000 lbs. of nitrogen annually, reducing the waste to Moniebogue Bay by 24 percent. And it will allow for a lessening of restrictions in the downtown."

Elected officials reflected on how it felt to see a long-held dream become reality.

“The connection of this business district to a modern wastewater treatment plant is a win-win that will protect water quality and keep Westhampton Beach’s economy moving forward,” said Bellone. “This is perfect example of how local governments can work cooperatively to share services and save taxpayer dollars."

Moore added: “Because of the generous support from New York State, Suffolk County and Southampton Town we were able to complete this project without raising taxes.”

The project, which cost about $16 million, was funded largely by a combination of state dollars through the Department of Environmental Conservation and Environmental Facilities Corporation, Suffolk County, and Southampton Town Community Preservation Fund monies, with the remainder coming from the village surplus.

“This is a prime example of what can be achieved through cross-sector collaboration and determination,” Moore said.

Moore said that a study provided by Stony Brook scientist Dr. Christopher Gobler in the project’s initial planning stages laid out the enhanced environmental protections and improved water quality that would ensue. Gobler first reported that the system would reduce the nitrogen content into the bay by 5,000 lbs. yearly.

In 2018, Bellone signed legislation to authorize an agreement with the village to connect its business district and two condominium complexes to the county’s wastewater treatment plant located at Gabreski Airport.

At first, Westhampton Beach officials considered building a new sewage treatment plant in the village, but ultimately decided that it would be too costly. A sewer consultant had estimated that the village would save about $7.4 million by contributing toward an expansion of the county’s treatment plant, known as Suffolk County Sewer District 24, which currently serves Gabreski Airport, the Air National Guard base and the companies located in the Hampton Business District, Moore has explained.

The county’s treatment plant at Gabreski Airport required modifications in order to accommodate the additional sewage from Westhampton Beach. The sewage treatment plant used the connection fee of $1.8 million from the village to offset the cost of the modification, which increased the plant’s capacity by 50 percent, village officials said.

The benefits are not only environmental, elected officials agreed.

"The project will also provide a boost to the local economy, attracting new businesses and supporting existing ones. People are already showing confidence in the community by building and renovating their existing infrastructure,” Moore said. “With a new boutique hotel taking over an old bank building and expanded dining experiences, it has greatly enhanced the aesthetic appeal of the area making it more attractive to residents, businesses and visitors.”

The sewer development followed on the heels of the Main Street reconstruction and revitalization project.

"Because of the state and local government cooperation, we have taken another major step to improve water quality on the East End," said Thiele.

New York State contributed $6.8 million to support the connection to the Gabreski plant, including $5 million from the Department of Environmental Conservation Water Quality Improvement Program, Thiele said. He added that the town also provided more than $4 million from the Community Preservation Fund to the village to finance the construction of the wastewater collection and conveyance infrastructure.

"The result will be a win for the environment and the economy," Thiele said. "Water quality will be improved with reduced nitrogen pollution and local businesses will be able to reach their full potential.”

Fleming agreed, lauding the efforts of Moore and the village trustees, who, she said, demonstrated exactly how to balance environmental needs with smart growth.

"I applaud Mayor Moore and the village trustees for their extraordinary leadership and thank County Executive Steve Bellone and the Suffolk County Department of Health Services for their professionalism in accomplishing this important milestone," she said.

Southampton Supervisor Jay Schneiderman said responsible development and preventing water pollution from aging septic tanks are two critical issues for the East End.

"Sewer systems and wastewater treatment are an important way to achieve both. This infrastructure project will help diversify and grow the village’s economy, while protecting our sole source aquifer," he said.

Bellone said on such a celebratory day, it was important to recognize all those involved "in getting us to this historic moment."

He added: "The water quality issue is the most important issue of our time. So when you can also work in a way where helping to solve this incredibly important issue for the future of the region is also creating opportunities for economic development and help for small business owners, that is an incredible day, an historic day."

He also credited Moore, a "visionary and a leader."

Moore said it was a team effort; she thanked engineer Frank Russo of H2M architects + engineers who "came into my life and said, 'I want to talk to you about sewers,'" she said; he advised her to retain Dr. Gobler. "We will always be grateful to you for coming into our lives," she said.

Moore also thanked a long list of those who worked toward the ultimate goal on the heels of Main Street reconstruction. "It just shows what can happen when you come together," she said.

Thiele also reflected: "I never thought that one of the highlights of the past couple of years would be going around the county with Steve Bellone, celebrating the flushing of a toilet," he laughed.

In all seriousness, Thiele said water quality has become one of most critical environmental issues across Long Island. Bellone, he said, declared "nitrogen public enemy Number 1, threatening our environment and our East End economy. Every Batman has to have a Robin," and Peter Scully, Suffolk Deputy County Executive and "water czar" took that role, he said, working on "initiative after initiative to make these projects happen."

Thiele also commended Moore for her leadership, transforming Westhampton Beach from the time, when he served as village attorney, that he remembered as the "Hatfields and McCoys. This village board has come together, not with just this project but with the Main Street revitalization, as the poster child for what downtown revitalization should be."

Fleming discussed a study commissioned in 2013 to "lift the lid off the problems we were facing,"; Gobler put science behind the issues that have led to the collapse not only of the Peconic Bay scallop population but also shellfish and more, she said. "It's a real problem," she added, thanking Moore and the board and all involved for their cooperation and leadership.

Schneiderman said he's worked on the issue for years, first as a Suffolk County legislator, and said research has led to good news, with no brown tides in years. He commended all the hard work it took on all sides to make the ceremony a reality. "The problem is a simple problem — but the solution was not a simple solution," he said.