Suffolk County fully embraced the need to take proactive steps to reverse the decades-long trend of water quality degradation by kick-starting the “Reclaim Our Water” initiative in 2016. Through this initiative, the County offers substantial incentives for upgrading the antiquated cesspools and/or septic tanks found throughout the county with “Innovative and Alternative Onsite Wastewater Treatment Systems” (I/A Systems), such as Fuji Clean, which remove nitrogen from wastewater. As County Executive Steve Bellone declared:
“Nitrogen pollution is public enemy “Nitrogen pollution is public enemy number one for our bays, waterways, drinking supply, and the critical wetlands and marshes that protect us from natural disasters…More than 300,000 homes in Suffolk County are not sewered and are contributing nearly 70 percent of the pollution.”
Suffolk County property owners are eligible for up to $30,000 in County and State grant money toward the installation of an I/A System, in addition to the rebate funds available in the East End Towns.