Call to Action

The Town of Southampton is considering the purchase of several parcels near Sears-Bellows Park in Hampton Bays in the Town of Southampton. That area is low lying and has a number of lakes in addition to Sears and Bellows and it lies close to the Hubbard park and Flanders Bay. We support ownership by the town. However, the Town is considering using one of the parcels for a water treatment plant. Did I tell you the land is low lying? Treating water at this location would produce an outflow which would have to be transported by pipes to the bay or sent into the ground. Either way, unless the treated water is 100% pure (which it never is!), it could influence the quality of water in the surrounding lakes or the bay, along with the life forms they support. Further, if pumped to the bay, lines would have to be installed across sensitive lands and the bay water would be influenced by a drop in salinity, possibly higher temperature, and possible contamination by whatever is in the water that the treatment could not remove such as pharmaceutical.   

The Pine Barrens Society which sent this information to us, and we, the Long Island group of the Sierra Club, are not opposed to a much needed water treatment plant. it’s just that one can and should be located elsewhere. There are other available locations that are better suited for this purpose.  Locating one here would pose a risk to the ecological integrity of the nearby lakes, Flanders Bay and Hubbard County Park.   

If you are a constituent of the Town of Southampton and agree that a different location should be considered, kindly inform your councilperson and/or the supervisor. You can do it by clicking below or by copying and pasting this link into your browser search bar.

Https://www.southamptontownny.gov/137/Town-Council-Office