Petition Summary & Background: The purpose of this petition is to request funding to provide safe drinking water to 56 homes at Oak Beach and the Oak Beach Community Center. The water system is currently serving the 56 homes that have been operating under a “Do Not Drink” order from the Suffolk County Department of Health Services for over 5 years, and deficiencies have been known for many more years beyond that.  Due to these deficiencies, the Suffolk County Department of Health Services is mandating that these 56 homes migrate from their existing water systems to a new and unreasonably expensive public water system.  At $8.8 million dollars and serving just 56 homes, the cost of this new system will be passed on to a small group of homeowners, resulting in a water bill not only thousands more dollars than the Suffolk County average, but the highest water bill in the country.   In addition, it's buildings and infrastructure will be a blight against the natural and historic nature of the Oak Beach community.  

Timing:  We specifically ask the Town of Babylon Board members not to approve this project on 5/20/21, at this cost and location, until the solution is revised and best serves the community.  The SCDOH states that they will impose fines on the Town of Babylon, if they do not build this system, and soon.  We ask that government officials help the community work with these two entities to extend the time period to come up with a solution that is best for the community, with regard to both cost and location.  

Unreasonable Cost: The community is opposed to the cost of the project being passed along to the 56 residents, as many will not be able to afford this significant increase.  The water system should not have evolved to the current deficient condition without oversight from the local authorities having jurisdiction.  The proposed system is too expensive as a mandated expense levied on the tax bill of only 56 residents.  The estimated costs include anywhere from $2,000 - $6,666 per year for the loan debt service to cover the cost of the new water system, in addition to a separate bill for water usage and maintenance fees, and last, the unknown expense to physically connect our homes to the water main in the street.  It is not feasible, practical, fair or tenable.  

Location of Proposed Infrastructure: The residents of Oak Beach, affected by this system or not, and the residents of the barrier beaches in general who take great pride in their communities, do not want to see this system built next to the historic Community Center in Oak Beach (which is a Town of Babylon owned historic building,  formerly a United States Life Saving Service Station built in 1872.)  It was recently restored with great care to historical accuracy.  With the proposed treatment building holding two 10,000 gallon water tanks and estimated to be over 40'ft in length, plus two additional 14'ftx14'ft structures across the street covering the new well heads, this is not a small addition to the community center property which the Barrier Beach Civic Association has used for decades to host its social events.   It will be unsightly, loud, and large.  It would be a shame to put it at this location when it can be built away from any homes in the 17- acre Oak Beach Park just up the road, which just so happens to need a water source to build a long-awaited restroom facility  We would also like to ask our local representatives to help the Town of Babylon in navigating the layers of government necessary to locate the system in Oak Beach Park, which is Suffolk County land.  If it can be done, it should be done.

Abundant Funding Sources: Additionally, we are specifically petitioning our local government representatives to continue to fight for us. We really need you on this one!  We need help identifying and applying for additional funding to bring the cost in line with the Suffolk County average.  There is more awareness and funding for water projects now, on both the Federal and State levels.  This past April, the Senate overwhelmingly approved a $35 billion measure to clean up the nation’s water systems.  Governor Andrew M. Cuomo announced this past April that the New York State Environmental Facilities Corporation Board of Directors has approved more than $48 million in grants, interest-free loans, and low-cost loans to support vital drinking water and wastewater infrastructure projects across New York State. The State has promised to spend a total of $5 billion on clean water initiatives.  This project is deserving of and in-line with the intent of this funding. There is no reason that 56 homeowners should bear a $2,000+ water bill as a line item on tax bills during this unprecedented era of clean water funding.

We, the undersigned, are concerned citizens of Oak Beach, NY, who urge our leaders to act now to provide federal or state funding to the OAK BEACH COMMUNITY WATER SYSTEM for the INFRASTRUCTURE needed to deliver CLEAN WATER.