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A public referendum to establish a new sewer district in the Mastic-Shirley area that could have significant implications for the region is up for a vote today.
Advocates say the Forge River Watershed Sewer District project — which, if approved, would require a new sewer treatment plant — is needed to reduce nitrogen pollution from septic systems, cesspools, agricultural uses and runoff, which has degraded surface and ground waters.
“This is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for the community,” said Suffolk Legis. Rudy Sunderman, who was urging people in the affected area to vote in favor of the measure by going door to door, by phone and via social media on Monday.
The project is expected to reduce nitrogen by 70 percent in the Forge River, the most severely polluted waterway in Suffolk County.
Proponents add it will help foster economic development and increase property values.
The initial two project phases would include close to 1,900 homes and about 150 commercial properties, located mainly along the Montauk Highway business corridor between the Forge River and just west of the William Floyd Parkway.
Mastic-Shirley will lose $168 million in one-time FEMA funding if residents don’t approve the new sewer district. Because of the federal funds, there will be no cost to either residential or commercial property owners for construction of sewer lines, the sewer treatment plant and other sewer system infrastructure.
Homeowners would pay about $470 annual maintenance costs. Commercial properties will be responsible for one-time costs associated with hooking up to the sewer system. However, there is aid available to help with those costs.
During a meeting of the Chamber of Commerce of the Mastics and Shirley last week at the Mastic Ambulance Company, officials announced that small businesses would be eligible for a pool of $250,000 in grant money. Sunderman said it was a response to concerns by small businesses about the costs to hook up.
Sunderman said he is also proposing a resolution in the Suffolk Legislature to allow low-interest loans for the small-business hook-ups, and that he would seek additional funding for the businesses.
For chamber President Beth Wahl, who has been working on the project for 20 years, “In my mind, considering how much it costs to fix cesspools, to me this is a no-brainer. Plus, the county will be taking up the expense” of repairing lawns for residents.
Wahl said that if the sewer district is approved, officials will move to get funding for phases 3 and 4, which encompasses a larger area south to the tip of the peninsula and would entail another referendum. About $500 million in funding has already been requested for that effort.
Separate sewer district referendums are set for tomorrow in communities in Babylon and Islip towns.
Voting for the Mastic-Shirley project will take place at the Mastic Fire House, located at 1080 Mastic Road, from 6 a.m.-9 p.m.
Only registered voters living in the project area are eligible to vote. Call the Suffolk County Board of Elections at 631-852-4500 with any questions about your eligibility.
“If this fails, that money is gone,” Wahl said. “There is no way we are ever going to see it again. Some other community will enjoy our sewers. I will be the most disappointed person in the world.”
But she’s optimistic.
“We’re just so excited about this. This is the answer, not just economically, but environmentally,” noting the benefits to the Forge River. “It would be wonderful to bring that back to where it was.”
Added Sunderman: “If we can get this to pass, this is going to be very exciting for the community.”
