County funds $10M sewer expansion for Patchogue

Suffolk County is expanding the sewer system for properties in the Village of Patchogue. 

Suffolk County Executive Steve Bellone was joined by county and village officials in Patchogue Monday to announce $10 million for the sewer expansion that will be able to connect about 100 homes, eliminating cesspools and other septic systems, according to a county statement. The money comes from the county’s Wastewater Infrastructure Fund. 

The Village of Patchogue currently has a $22 million dollar project underway in the Patchogue River Watershed which will eliminate about 240 cesspools and septic systems that are polluting local waterways with nitrogen. The expansion will allow for about 100 more homes along Campbell Street, Argyle Lane, Smith Street and Pine Boulevard to connect to the county sewer system. 

The Patchogue River Watershed Sewer Project, made possible via a $12 million expansion of the village’s sewage treatment plant, is funded by federal and state grants. The village will install grinder pump units at each home and will make any necessary repairs at no additional expense to homeowners, though they will have to pay $650 annually for the sewer service. 

“The county is proud to support the efforts of the Village of Patchogue to protect and preserve our water quality for generations to come,” Suffolk County Executive Steve Bellone said in the statement. “The $10 million grant will expand the sewer project that is already underway, which will now eliminate nearly 340 cesspools and septic systems that are polluting our waterways.” 

Suffolk County Legislature Presiding Officer Kevin McCaffrey said the additional connections to the Patchogue Sewer District is another positive step towards improving the water quality of the Patchogue River and the Great South Bay. 

“It will address the release of harmful pathogens during extreme weather events and reduce the nitrogen build up from on-site systems that has plagued this vital waterway for decades,” McCaffrey said in the statement. “The Suffolk County Legislature is committed to improving and restoring the quality of the Patchogue River and all of Suffolk County’s waterways for future generations.” 

County Legislator Dominick Thorne said the expansion is the third wastewater infrastructure project in the 7th district in just over a year.  

“Partnering with Mayor Paul Pontieri from the Village of Patchogue, just makes sense,” Thorne said in the statement. “The village and my office along with the county executive, presiding officer, and Supervisor Romaine will work to ensure our environment is protected. Patchogue Village government has done an outstanding job and has been on the forefront of wastewater management.”  

The county’s Wastewater Infrastructure fund was created as part of the 2022 Operating Budget. The Wastewater Infrastructure Fund includes $125 million in new funding to advance the county’s Reclaim Our Water Initiative, advance the county’s response to environmental hazards, and invest in projects to improve coastal resiliency, according to the statement. 

About $21 million of the money aimed to protect the Patchogue River watershed was provided by New York State, according to Department of Environmental Conservation Commissioner Basil Seggos. 

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