Assemblyman Ed Ra (R-Franklin Square) attended a hearing on December 4 regarding water quality and the implementation of the $2.5 billion Clean Water Infrastructure Act of 2017. Representatives from the Department of Health (DOH) and Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) were in attendance to talk about progress on initiatives funded in the 2017-18 Enacted Budget. Topics discussed included funding for the replacement of residential lead service lines and the recently announced plan for a new outfall pipe at the Bay Park Sewage Treatment Plant.

"Clean drinking water is a basic necessity of life and preserving and protecting our sole source aquifer should be of the utmost importance,” said Ra. "There are many steps and routes we must take to ensure this, and I am happy to see that our historic investment in this year's state budget is already having an impact. The feedback from our agencies and other organizations will help ensure that this funding, and future initiatives, are focused on ensuring clean, quality drinking water for generations to come.”

Also discussed was the issue of emerging contaminants, which was a focus of the legislation. Ra questioned representatives from the DOH regarding the progress of a pilot program launched by the NYS Center for Clean Water Technology (CCWT) at Stony Brook University to find an advanced water treatment to remove 1,4 dioxane that is found in many water districts on Long Island. The DEC is also working on a $75 million Nitrogen action plan, while the state is spending $6 million for a groundwater study on Long Island with the U.S. Geological Service. Legislators in attendance stressed the need for continued investment during the upcoming legislative session.