Concerns about Long Island's drinking water supply prompted Nassau County Legislator Judi Bosworth, D-Great Neck, and Suffolk County Legislator William Spencer, D-Huntington, to hold a joint hearing on water security recently.
Potential threats such pollution, overuse and saltwater contamination were discussed at the meeting in Hauppauge.
"We are the largest population in New York State without sufficient protection and management of our water supply," said Leg. Bosworth. "It is critical that we do everything we can to safeguard this sensitive, essential and vulnerable natural resource now."
Bosworth says there is no comprehensive plan or management policy to protect Long Island's aquifers and anyone with a well permit can tap into the aquifer to remove water, which could lead to inadvertent contamination.
Nassau and Suffolk counties utilized more than 375 million gallons of groundwater per day for public, domestic, industrial and irrigation uses, according to a 2000 study by the United States Geological Survey.
A second hearing regarding water security will take place at Clinton G. Martin Park in New Hyde Park on Oct. 2 from 6-8 p.m.
