Sewage Discharge Notification Bill Close to Approval

A bill that would require immediate public notification of discharges of untreated or partially treated sewage into water sources is on its way to Gov. Andrew Cuomo for approval.

The “Sewage Pollution Right to Know Act” — legislation that would add a requirement to state law that sewer discharges also be reported to local health departments and local media, in addition to the Department of Environmental Conservation — passed both the state Assembly and Senate on June 21. The legislation would impact sewage discharge from the Cedar Creek Water Pollution Control Plant in Wantagh. 

“Families need to know that the water they are swimming or fishing in is not going to pose a health risk,” said Assemblyman Harvey Weisenberg, D-Long Beach, a sponsor of the bill. “Currently, there is no way for a family to know if water is polluted unless the county health department has closed a beach.” 

According to a press release from Weisenberg’s office, the legislation requires operators of sewage treatment plants to:

• immediately disclose to the DEC that a discharge of untreated or partially treated sewage has occurred, including combined sewer overflows;
• release the time and location of the discharge, along with the duration, cause and steps taken to clean up the discharge to the public;
• disclose the event to local health departments and town officials;
• release notification to the public via email in a timely fashion; and
• require the DEC to post information to their website and provide updates of the incident.

Weisenberg had previously sought funds to study cleaning up , which include the Jones Inlet in Wantagh. This year, Weisenberg was able to obtain an additional $300,000 to allow the DEC to develop solutions to reduce pollution going into the bays.

A survey by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reported over 4,000 documented illnesses from recreation waters in the U.S. in 2005 and 2006, Weisenberg said.

“Exposure to even a small amount of untreated sewage can cause serious illness and can lead to chronic diseases,” the assemblyman added. “By providing immediate public notification, we can protect our families, while taking necessary action to clean up our water and research preventative measures for the future.”