Suffolk County Executive Steve Bellone today joined Smithtown Supervisor Ed Wehrheim, State and County elected officials, and local business leaders to announce a new County project to provide a connection to sewers for Lake Avenue businesses, and a new $10 million grant award to help advance the long-awaited Smithtown Business District sewer project to construction.
“The County strongly supports the vision and commitment to sound planning that Supervisor Wehrheim and the Town Board have shown for the downtown areas throughout the Town Smithtown,” said Suffolk County Executive Bellone. “We have already partnered successfully to bring sewers to Kings Park, and our announcements today are the next steps to make sure that both the Smithtown and Saint James business districts are finally connected to sewers, as well.”
Smithtown Supervisor Edward R Wehrheim said: “If I had a nickel every time someone said the words, you’ll never see Sewers in Smithtown, not in this lifetime anyway… Let’s just say I could retire tomorrow, very comfortably. I’m very proud to say that beginning in just a few short weeks, a shovel will break ground into the first of three sewer installation and connection projects in our three downtowns within the township. The announcements made today by County Executive Bellone and the work we’ve done together over these past five years, with our talented teams, secures the funds needed to connect St James to an STP and sets Smithtown on a faster track for construction. This is what good government looks like. This is what can be accomplished for the people we serve when we work together.”
The Town of Smithtown previously completed the installation of a sewer main as part of a revitalization project that significantly improved the Saint James business hamlet, so that future sewer connections would not require a future sewer main construction project on Lake Avenue. The County’s new capital project will connect the main installed by the Town to an existing County sewer district (Sewer District No. 28 – Fairfield) where the existing treatment plant is being replaced with new, state-of-the art technology.
An analysis completed as part of the design of the new facility found that connecting Lake Avenue businesses to the new facility would be feasible, at a projected cost of $16.7 million. Bellone announced a grant of $3 million from the County’s Water Infrastructure Fund to complete the design the project, to make it shovel ready for construction and make an initial contribution towards construction costs. Contingent on funding, the project could break ground in the Spring of 2025 and be completed by the Summer of 2026.
The $10 million award of construction funding for the Smithtown Business District Sewer project builds on ongoing efforts to secure the estimated $90 million needed to connect businesses along Main Street to an expanded treatment plant at Suffolk County Sewer District No. 6 in Kings Park. The project had already been awarded a $20 million grant from New York State’s Transformative Investment Program (TIP), and a $3 million federal grant secured by former Congressman Lee Zeldin.
U.S. Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer said: “This is a great day for Smithtown. I am proud to have delivered hundreds of millions of dollars that are being used to build-out and upgrade Suffolk County’s wastewater infrastructure systems, and I applaud County Executive Steve Bellone for wisely allocating $13 million more in American Rescue Plan aid – funding that I fought hard to get to Long Island – to make transformational investments in Smithtown and St. James. This funding will help fully revitalize Smithtown Business District, provide more economic development opportunities, and protect public health and the environment by stemming the tide of toxic nitrogen into our groundwater and waterways. These investments are the kind that will help Suffolk County build back stronger post-pandemic and I will continue fighting each and every day to bring federal funds back to Long Island.”
Senator Mario R. Mattera said: “The expansion and construction of sewers is the best way to protect our environment while simultaneously growing our economy. This amazing partnership between Suffolk County and the Town of Smithtown will help our residents, our business owners and our future generations while creating jobs for our hardworking men and women. This critical infrastructure investment would not have been possible without the vision of Supervisor Wehrheim, the Town Council, County Executive Bellone and our sewer czar Peter Scully and it is great to stand with them as they bring downtown Smithtown and Lake Avenue in St. James into the 21st Century.”
State Assemblyman Mike Fitzpatrick said: “Supervisor Wehrheim and County Executive Bellone have forged a strong and productive partnership to develop sewer infrastructure in Smithtown, Kings Park, and Saint James. Today we take significant steps to get closer to our goal of revitalizing these beautiful downtown areas for future growth and a better quality of life. Today’s announcement will help, Long Island, and the state of New York, advance the cause of developing more housing options for its residents.”
Legislator Leslie Kennedy said: “Projects like these allow us to protect our precious sole source aquifer for future generations while strengthening our downtown areas. Economic development and protecting our environment are not mutually exclusive.”
Marc Herbst, Executive Director, Long Island Contractors’ Association said: “Over 360,000 homes in Suffolk County are disconnected from a proper sewer system leaving our water waste discharged into septic tanks that spill into our ground water, water ways, and beaches. No more. We applaud County Executive Steve Bellone for his tireless efforts to fund, modernize and expand a new sewer system for Suffolk County, and LICA will continue to assist in advocating for a cleaner, better system. Not only will these efforts result in safer drinking water for our residents, but also greater economic development for our region.”
Adrienne Esposito, Executive Director, Citizens Campaign for the Environment said: “In the epic battle to upgrade our wastewater treatment systems in Suffolk, we are making progress! Nitrogen pollution from outdated septic systems and cesspools is causing harmful algal blooms, hypoxia, and fish die-offs in our bays, lakes, and estuaries. The good news is we know the solution and our elected leaders are working collaboratively to implement them. CCE is thrilled that Smithtown residents will be able to replace polluting septic and cesspools with 21st century technology that treats sewage. We applaud Suffolk County elected leaders for working in a bipartisan way and securing $13 million for sewers in Smithtown. We look forward to enjoying healthier waterways in the very near future.”
Hayduk Engineering, LLC said: “Providing sewers to Lake Avenue and expanding the Sewer District #28 wastewater treatment facility will promote the revitalization of downtown Saint James, spur economic growth, and improve our water quality. We are excited to be working on this project for the County and we look forward to continuing to work with the Town and the community as the project progresses.”
H2M architects + engineers said: “H2M architects + engineers is pleased to have worked with the Town of Smithtown during the design and construction of the sewer in the commercial district along Lake Avenue. Once the conveyance system to the treatment plant is installed, there will be redevelopment opportunities in the service area and the environment will benefit when the existing onsite sanitary systems are abandoned.”
