Riverhead Sewage Treatment Plant

After racking up over 2,500 violations, the Riverhead Sewage Treatment Plant completed a facility upgrade in November 2000 that enabled it to finally come into compliance with the New York State pollutant discharge permit. However, we are reluctant to let down our guard based on the plant's past record.

The violations came to light after a December 1999 sewage spill when the Baykeeper reviewed the facility's reports and blew the whislte on nearly 1,200 violations during that year-long period. The cumulative effects of the pollutants caused degraded water quality and stressed marine life. Coincidentally, the Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) didn't initiate enforcement action until the Baykeeper brought the violations to public light.

Because of the DEC's complacency in enforcing clean water standards, the Baykeeper filed a petition to intervene in the enforcement action and was granted party status. Following months of legal wrangling, the Baykeeper was removed from the proceedings and the case was settled with the Town of Riverhead. The terms of the settlement amounted to a "slap on the wrist" that provided negligible benefits to the bay and to the baymen who had been affected.

Unfortunately, the DEC's failure to effectively enforce discharge permits isn't limited to the Riverhead Sewage Treatment Plant. Other offenders continue to pollute the Peconic Bay system, unabated by the DEC. The health of our local waters must be protected, and it is time for the agency responsible for clean water to do its job.

An Incident Report

A concerned citizen called me Saturday morning, June 24, 2000, to report a disturbing sight at the Riverhead Sewage Treatment Plant outfall pipe.

I arrived at the scene at 11 am and witnessed the horrific discharge of solid matter that included fecal chunks the size of my thumbnail. On the dock was a bucket of water that contained contents collected earlier from the outfall. I learned that plant personnel had been contacted and informed of the situation. I placed a call to the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation Water Resources Division; there was no answer.

I left the site and returned at 2 pm and observed a visible improvement in the water quality. Fecal matter was no longer streaming from the outfall pipe. Two employees from the STP, a DEC Conservation Officer and a News 12 cameraman arrived. Although it appeared the flow of feces had diminished considerably, the DEC officer was quite disturbed, advising those present to not place bare hands in the water.

Returning to the office Monday morning, I contacted agency staff at the DEC and Suffolk County. I was informed by a member of the Health Department they had been notified of the discharge, they had taken water samples at 5 pm Saturday evening, and analysis results were not consistent with a sewage spill.

We will never know if the delay in sampling was intentional or neglectful.

The December 1999 spill of 275,000 gallons and their 1,200+ violations speak loud and clear about the Riverhead Sewage Treatment Plant and the DEC's failure to stop a very serious pollution problem. This neglect and inactivity make a mockery of the Federal Clean Water Act.

-Kevin McAllister