It is extremely disappointing that Michael Miller uses his "Viewpoint" column (Nassau's $12.5 Billion Question - January 10, 2003 edition of the Plainview Herald) to distort the facts concerning our water supply on Long Island. His article inaccurately portrays the actions of regional water suppliers. It is important that the facts and real science of our water supply be objectively and fairly communicated to the public.

Overall, based on the most recent data obtained from the Nassau County Department of Public Works (NCDPW) through its regional groundwater model, saltwater intrusion is not a problem for our supply in Nassau County. The assertion that saltwater intrusion is impacting Albertson is baseless. While Albertson may be experiencing slightly elevated chloride levels, perhaps due to road salt, it is not conclusive that saltwater intrusion is the culprit. In Nassau County, saltwater intrusion is currently impacting localized areas, which include the Great Neck peninsula and the southwest portion of Nassau County. The most significant situation is in the Great Neck peninsula since some public wells have been impacted by saltwater intrusion. The county groundwater model has been an instrumental tool in addressing the localized Great Neck problem by providing data to manage the pumping patterns on the peninsula. Based on the study of the Great Neck peninsula, it was determined that the saltwater intrusion problem can be managed and is reversible (at a slow rate) based on the county groundwater model and present results. Current data indicates that saltwater intrusion along the south shore will become more pronounced and may affect some public wells over the next several decades based upon current pumping patterns and natural rise in sea level elevation. Preliminary modeling of the south shore has indicated that even a 10 percent decrease in water consumption (which is a sizable amount) would have little impact in the encroachment of saltwater due to the natural rise of sea levels. The county is continuously monitoring this situation and is working closely with those water suppliers whose wells are in jeopardy so that appropriate remedies may be undertaken similar to the positive results obtained in Great Neck.

At present, there are approximately 10 trillion gallons of freshwater stored in the aquifers beneath Nassau County. Although we cannot utilize all of this water, due to physical restrictions and localized saltwater intrusion potential, the amount of water safely available can more than adequately meet present and projected water demand in the county. Due to this large storage capacity, we are in an excellent position to withstand droughts that are of major concern periodically to New York City and other areas where the storage capacity of their water source is not nearly as large as ours. Therefore it would not be scientifically or financially prudent to spend $12.5 billion to interconnect with the New York City system.

Based on Nassau County Department of Public Works data, the groundwater table will not decline continuously since we consume less water than is recharged with natural precipitation. According to Nassau County statistics, on average, 330 million gallons per day (MGD) of recharge water enters the groundwater system. Of that amount 180 MGD (on average) of water from the system is consumed. This translates into 150 MGD of water, which flows naturally out of the groundwater system as either stream flow or underflow. There is a normal fluctuation of 0-5 feet variation up or down in the water table elevation depending on the amount of precipitation and well pumping for any given year. These fluctuations are temporary, however, and as long as the average recharge and consumption stays close to their present levels, there will be no continuous rise or fall in the water table. The use of sanitary sewers in the county exacerbates the reduction of stream flow and lake levels since 80 percent of the water used in a typical home is discharged to the sewer rather than into the groundwater system. It should be noted that the drying up of Hempstead Lake this summer was a result of the failure to maintain a water dam structure in conjunction with the lack of rainfall.

Although we have an abundant supply of water on Long Island at present and are not projected to experience a shortage of water in the future, it is important that we efficiently use the important natural resource. The Plainview Water District has taken a leading role in promoting water conservation over the past 13 years, helping push the community's average annual pumpage down by 190 million gallons. Furthermore, water conservation on Long Island has been strongly emphasized through the NYSDEC with the imposition of pumpage caps only on Nassau County suppliers and the requirement to submit water conservation plans in order to obtain supply well permit approval. It should be noted that the NYSDEC pumpage caps are based on arithmetic averages rather than permissible yield. Therefore to make a claim that water suppliers "blew the caps" is absurd and without merit. The present NYSDEC caps serve a purpose as a guide and reinforce the need to efficiently use our most precious natural resource, but have no scientific value since they are not based on permissible yield.

To further illustrate that Mr. Miller has distorted the facts, only three water supply systems in Nassau County have the dual responsibility to operate fire districts. This is hardly a vast majority. Furthermore, the governing board and management pay careful attention to the water supply operations of each entity. The claim that emergency interconnections are not functional is also without merit. Water suppliers are required to inspect their emergency interconnection at least annually and report the finding to the local health department.

I wonder what Mr. Miller's agenda is and what his qualifications are now that the facts have been presented. Is it prudent to create a large bureaucratic entity to address a problem that does not exist? In Nassau County, efficient governance and regulatory oversight is needed, not the creation of a large bureaucracy to administer our water supply that is already properly and efficiently managed by responsible entities.

Our groundwater supply on Long Island is a vast yet finite resource. Vigilance and care has been undertaken by regional water suppliers to ensure that the groundwater supply beneath Long Island is of high quality and ample quantity for the present population and future generations at a reasonable price. The distortion of the truth and hidden agendas must not compromise the integrity and management of our most precious natural resource.

Paul J. Granger, P.E.

Plainview Water District Superintendent