FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
July 31, 2018

Speaker Heastie Tours Long Island's Nassau County


1 / 2
Assembly Speaker Carl Heastie joined Assemblymember Anthony D'Urso in Nassau County today as part of Speaker Heastie's annual statewide tour. During the trip, Heastie and D'Urso met with Patty Katz, district commissioner of the Great Neck Water Pollution Control District to tour the facility. They also visited a subsection of Manhasset Bay that has recently experienced heavy water erosion, resulting from natural disasters such as Hurricane Sandy.

"Clean water is a limited resource, making wastewater treatment an important part of life as we know it. The work done at the Great Neck Water Pollution Control District directly impacts the lives of all that live in the Villages of Great Neck, Saddle Rock, Kensington, parts of Thomaston, Great Neck Plaza, as well as multiple areas in Manhasset," said Speaker Heastie. "It is important that we continue to focus on funding water treatment plants like Great Neck Water Pollution Control District to protect our environment, while finding mechanisms to mitigate the effects of climate change."

"I would like to thank Speaker Heastie for his support as we seek to further improve the wastewater industry and find new methods to protect and preserve our environment, making vulnerable areas more resilient," said Assemblymember D'Urso. "There are many environmental issues currently affecting Long Island's residents that will have an impact on generations to come if we do not make them a priority. Climate events will become more prevalent due to climate change and pollutants, which is an unfortunate reality. Facilities like the Great Neck Water Pollution Control District seek to combat these effects by educating the public about wastewater treatment and assisting in our efforts to preserve our local ecology."

The Great Neck Water Pollution Control District was established in 1914 as need for wastewater treatment expanded. Specializing in four major stages of wastewater treatment - preliminary, primary, secondary and advanced - the facility is one of the most environmentally advanced treatment plants in the state. They are responsible for more than 72 miles of sanitary sewers across Nassau County operating approximately 10 sewage pump stations.

During the second leg of the tour, both Speaker Heastie and Assemblymember D'Urso were exposed to the impact climate change has had on our environment. Manhasset Bay, an area known for its abundance of fish and shellfish, has experienced significant wetland loss over the past few decades due to the increase in climate events such as hurricanes. As the occurrence of natural disasters increase, shoreline communities will continue to see their negative impact.