Thursday, November 15, 2012

Health Concerns with Sewage in Sandy Aftermath


Dave Lange Sewer Service
SUFFOLK COUNTY, NEW YORK
631-447-5252


Two weeks after super storm Sandy hit, the damage still remains.  When the storm first hit the treatment pumps at the Bay Park Sewage Treatment Plant stopped working when it got flooded,

The solution was to divert raw sewage into the Rockaway channel to avoid excess backups into homes.   The sewage has only been partially treated as it continues to pump into the channel.  The raw sewage that is going into the plant is being treated and chlorinated, but the secondary systems are still down.  It was estimated that over nine feet of water rushed ashore during Sandy and caused massive destruction.  Raw sewage gushed up from the streets and drains like fountains and it rose up into residents’ basements. 

The damaged caused by this partially treated sewage could have lasting effects on the environment. The Bay Park plant that is only partially operational normally treats over 550,000 home in Nassau County.  Nassau County Executive Ed Mangano says “the county has the Department of Environmental Conservation and the Army Corps of Engineers at the plant, actively creating temporary cleansing station while they rebuild the plant.”  Part of the restoration plan will include developing new ways to make the plant flood-proof.

The plant isn't back to its normal operating efficiency, and most likely won’t be for 6 month up to a full year.

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