Something Really Stinks

On the ocean side of Long Beach island, pristine, white sands as far as the eye can see. On the bay side, sewage sludge from two different plants pumping freely into Reynolds Channel.

The Long Beach and Bay Park sewage treatment plants have both been graded "D" by the Citizens Campaign for the Environment, which ranked 10  plants across Long Island for permit violations, energy efficiency and public notification of untreated or excess release of effluent into local waterways. The plants were tied for worst place, with scores of 66, compared to Huntington's score of 97 and A+ rating. But there's no need to take the campaign's word for how bad it is.  You can see for yourself on YouTube.

There are no words sufficient to express the disgrace and sheer sadness of the reality that we are poisoning our own waterways. But there is something we can do to at least ameliorate the immediate health hazard. We can pressure the Nassau County Legislature to pass the Right to Know Bill, which has been languishing in Mineola since last spring. Everyone who cares should sign and send the Spill Bill letters that have been circulating, before Election Day. Let's let our elected officials know that they can't ride to glory on the backs of our dead fish.