County Honing the Vision of $250K Sewer Study in Flanders-Riverside

Some say sewers could be the key to economic development along Route 24 in Flanders and Riverside, but government officials first need to figure out what to include in the district and where to put the treatment plant.

Suffolk County is analyzing exactly that in a $250,000 year-long sewer district study with consulting help from Melville-based H2M and Woodbury-based CDM. The county currently has a dedicated $48 million fund for adding sewer mains in certain areas, but the Southampton Town project would still need outside funding, said County Legislator Jay Schneiderman at a sparsely attended meeting in Flanders Monday night.

The point of the study, which began Nov. 2, is to gather enough information on running sewer lines through Flanders and Riverside that the local municipality can make an informed decision, said Mary Anne Taylor, an associate at CDM working on the project.

She said the area faces two major challenges: the Pine Barrens and Flanders Bay. Getting approval from the Pine Barrens Commission for discharging treated wastewater could be difficult, and the Peconic Estuary, which includes Flanders Bay, is also under strict environmental protections.

The consultants will look at putting sewers in a 650-acre core area that includes the Riverside hamlet center, the county center and lots fronting Route 24 in Flanders. They’ll also look at an optional area, an additional 1,045 residential properties in neighborhoods including Bayview Pines.

At Schneiderman’s request, the consultants will also break out how the Suffolk County Center, McLeod’s Community, a proposed hotel in Riverside and other major developments will impact the system in terms of wastewater flow. That way, he and the Southampton Town planning department can decide what to include in the final district.

The county center produces 200,000 gallons of wastewater flow per day, a significant amount of the 1.9 million to 2.6 million the entire study area is projected to create, said Frank Russo, the vice president of wastewater engineering at H2M. Currently, the County Center and Suffolk County Jail located adjacent to the offices, are both part of the Riverhead Sewer District.

After the discussion, Schneiderman said he favored focusing the sewer study on the hamlet center and Riverside area.

“Narrowing the scope would be my personal preference,” Schneiderman said.

But Bayview Pines Civic and Taxpayers Association President Janice Jay Young wants her community studied. The water table at her Flanders property sits six inches below the ground near a creek, and she has issues with her septic system, like others in the neighborhood.

Having a sewer system would alleviate the issue, and potentially save money down the line when she has to replace it.

Because of the low attendance at Monday’s meeting, Schneiderman plans to host another after the holidays to gather more public input.

“It could bring community development that could bring down taxes,” Schneiderman said of sewers.