Drought restrictions unchanged on Shelter Island

The Water Advisory Committee Monday (WAC) afternoon agreed to hold steady with the severe drought advisory even though drought conditions farther west on Long Island are being changed to moderate by the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation.

There are minor indications that the worst of the dry conditions could be lessening, but WAC members agreed to wait another month to see whether conditions indicate there could be a change.

Part of the thinking is that only 16 days have passed from the July well water readings to this month’s reading while several weeks will go by between the August reading and the September reading, providing more evidence if there’s a reason to recommend any changes to the Town Board.

Regulations prohibit use of sprinklers for irrigation between the hours of 9 a.m. and 7 p.m., which has been in place since mid-July and represents a change from banning sprinkler use between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m.

At the same time, the WAC and the Town Board agreed not to stop sprinkler use for children to cool off that would involve less time for their use.

Residents are encouraged to:

• Use drip irrigation only when necessary (maximum limit of 20 minutes per cycle, three times per week)

• Avoid prolonged pumping of private wells.

• Use an electric leaf blower instead of water to clean driveways.

• Wash vehicles at facilities that recycle water.

• Install and use water-efficient fixtures and appliances.

• Check toilets and plumbing for leaks.

Responsibility of landlords

In May 2024, Gov. Kathy Hochul (D) signed legislation aimed at protecting public health, including improved water quality in Suffolk County. The governor signed the Suffolk Water Quality Restoration Act enabling the County to hold a referendum seeking to fund long-term investments in clean water systems.

“Access to clean water is a basic need and residents of Suffolk County deserve safe and reliable water infrastructure,” the governor said in signing the legislation.

What WAC members are considering is whether Gov. Hochul’s pledge opens the door for local legislation to require landlords to ensure their tenants have access to potable water. They are weighing if landlords who want a permit to rent, whether on a short- or long-term basis, should be required to show the property has been tested and that tenants have access to potable water. They aren’t calling for installation of expensive filtering systems. Nor are they pushing for all water coming into the rental apartments to be potable, but that at least one faucet provides potable water. Alternatively, they would allow a landlord to provide bottled water to receive a permit allowing for a rental.

Committee Chairman Andrew Chapman said he’s incensed that there is no indication that landlords are required to provide tenants with potable water. But member Greg Toner said he wouldn’t vote for a resolution requiring testing at this time because he believes it is premature.

Deputy Supervisor Meg Larsen, a Town Board liaison to the WAC, said the Board has asked its attorney, Thomas Crouch, for an opinion on the legality of adding a requirement that landlords prove their tenants have access to potable water and if so, what language would be appropriate for such a local law. 

Ms. Larsen also noted that a public hearing would have to be held before the Town Board could take any action on a proposed new law.

Ultimately, WAC members passed a recommendation without Mr. Toner’s agreement that would call for annual water testing that shows there is at least one point in the home that provides potable water, unless there is access to public water, and proposing that it would await legal review before being implemented.

Update on Center water tests

Although the WAC had hoped to encourage 100 residents in specific zones of the Center triangle to have their water tested, to date 49 people have signed up for the testing. 

Of the 49 samples collected and submitted to the Suffolk County Department of Health Services for testing, 45 have completed the testing so far. Full results are given to the homeowners, while the Town gets composite numbers within each zone.

Under the program, homeowners have to pay the $100 cost of the test, but once the samples are tested, the Town reimburses the cost using funds provided by the Water Quality Improvement Advisory Board from the real estate transfer tax paid by buyers of most properties on the Island.