How to Hang Outdoor Christmas Lights!

SUFFOLK COUNTY, NEW YORK

631-447-5252

Decorating your house with lights is one of the oldest traditions of the upcoming holiday season.  With the cold weather, snow and ice this could be a dangerous task.  Lowe’s offers some helpful tips on how to safely hang your outdoor lights, safely and properly to create the perfect holiday atmosphere.  

The first thing you’re going to want to do is to plan your project before you buy anything.  Measure your target areas that you would like to decorate with lights, but also keep in mind the distance to the nearest power outlet.  After calculating your measurements its time to decide which type of bulbs you would like to use.  An inexpensive option can be incandescent mini lights, which are sold in various lengths that hold from 50 to over 300 lights.  A newer option for outdoor decorating is LED (light-emitting diode) lights.  They give off a bright white light and remain cool even after hours of use.  LEDs are more expensive but ultimately save you money in the long run because they are 90% more energy-efficient and last thousands of hours longer.  

Whatever your choice all light strands should be UL-listed and rated for outdoor use, and choosing the same brand for all your lights will ensure consistent results.  After purchasing your lights, you’ll need some other supplies to help you hang them.  For example you’ll need hardware such as specialty hooks and clamps that make it easy to attach lights to gutters, window trip and door frames.  Basic hand tools are usually necessary to install most of this hard ware.  

Outdoor extension cords will bring power to lights in hard to reach places.  A ladder is essential if you plan on getting lights on your roof.  Finally some people like to use a timer to automatically turn on the lights when it becomes dark out.  Remember to take the proper safety precautions before hanging your lights.  If possible try to work during the daylight and work with a helper.  Unwrap all lights and untangle cords before you start and avoid driving nails into cords or attaching cords with staples.  Follow all these tips and your holiday season will be accompanied by a beautifully decorated house that embraces the Christmas season.

Health Concerns with Sewage in Sandy Aftermath

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.

Nassau Diverting Sewage

SUFFOLK COUNTY, NEW YORK

631-447-5252

Sewage systems all over Long Island have been experiencing catastrophic failures caused by the recent super storm Sandy.  Particularly Bay Park Sewage Treatment Plant, which recently experienced massive failures causing sewage to be backed up into nearby homes.  This plant has increased its workload from the average 70 million gallons of influent it normally treats to 85 million gallons, in an attempt to relieve the faulty system.  Nassau County Executive Ed Mangano assures that workers have been successful in diverting this mess away from local residents.  But the plant is still experiencing significant problems, including two breached piping systems that are allowing sewage to spew out.  In addition a county vehicle collapsed into a sinkhole and is sinking onto one of the pipes in East Rockaway.  

The county issued a Public Health Emergency on Wednesday in response to the plant failure caused by the storm.  There is also an order to conserve drinking water that will remain in effect for at least the next few days.  Residents south of the Long Island Expressway, from the Queens Border to the Meadowbrook State Parkway, are included in the water conservation order with the exception of Cedarhurst and Lawrence.  The water in the area has been tested and determined safe to drink, the only areas impacted by the restrictions of contamination are in Long Beach and Mill Neck.  The massive failures at the Bay Park plant encouraged the county to initiate a three-part migration plan that includes up to 30 days of triage repairs and six to twelve months of comprehensive repair of the entire facility.  

All resources are being exhausted in the attempt to make these communities safe and return them to their normal states.  This process will take a lot of time and effort but it will be completed.  

Have you experience trouble with your sewage system since Hurricane Sandy? Let us know on our Facebook page, linked HERE! 

Sewer Systems Affected From Hurricane Sandy

SUFFOLK COUNTY, NEW YORK

631-447-5252

In the aftermath of any hurricane, it is very common to experience difficulties with your sewage systems not functioning properly.  Some septic systems operate using a dosing pump, which will not work without electricity.  

The loss of electricity is one of the most common effects from a hurricane, so this could be a common problem.  You should avoid using water in your home as much as possible until the electric turns back on.  Without electricity and a properly working pump, the tanks may fill and cause backups of sewage into your home.  When this occurs your entire home can become saturated and become unsafe to occupy.  Heavy rainfall from hurricanes may result in flood waters that are contaminated with sewage.  

These overflows can take a significant amount of time to clean and can be dangerous to encounter.  Minor spills require immediate attention; regular garden lime from a garden shop can be a quick and easy remedy.  Major floods need to be handled by professionals and rescue crews.  In the event of major floods one should evacuate immediately until the area is cleared.  

Suffolk County Sewer Expansion

SUFFOLK COUNTY, NEW YORK

631-447-5252

Suffolk County is currently in the process of expanding its sewer systems. However, the public wants to know if the benefits will outweigh the costs.  

The cost of the project in question stunned residents and legislators alike.  Representatives from the Suffolk County Department of Public Works believe hat the most feasible and cost effective method would be to focus on he areas most in need.  The primary objective would be an area of North Babylon, which would be considered the single top subarea to receive sewers in the near future.  

These improvements do not come without costs, adding the sewer system and cleaning the groundwater would cost around an extra $1300 and around $600 in maintenance fees per year.  Representatives believe that the best-case scenario would be, a 30-year bond at 2% interest and 80% of the project’s funding coming from federal, state or local sources.  An early meeting stated that the costs of this project could range from $900 million to as much as $2 billion.  

Although this project may cost a substantial amount of money, properly maintained sewer systems are an important service to ensure our health and safety.  We need to find a suitable way to maintain the recycling of the waste water in our communities.  Officials need to find the proper funding for this project because the residents are not able to pay the costs.  

What do you think about the Suffolk County Sewer Expansion? Let us know on our Facebook page, LINKED HERE! 

Sewer Expansion Project

SUFFOLK COUNTY, NEW YORK

631-447-5252

On October 10^th, The Suffolk County Department of Public Works (SCDPW) will host its third public meeting of project stakeholders to discuss and present the final report and recommendations for the Southwest Service Area Expansion Project.  

This project will help expand services to areas such as Deer Park, North Babylon, West Babylon, West Islip, Wheatley Heights and Wyandanch.  It will connect these areas with Lindenhurst and Babylon Village, which had connected sewer lines 30 years ago.  “With the new availability of sanitary sewers has the potential to increase business investments, enhance workforce housing opportunities, improve water quality and provide greater environmental protection in these six communities,” said Gilbert Anderson, Commissioner of the SCDPW.  Although this project would help many people, it would cost the taxpayers over 2 billion dollars.  Over 53% of the budget will be allocated to an area called Tier One, which are the areas with the most need for these sewer systems.  

Officials wanted to reassure the taxpayers that 2 billion dollars is just and estimate without any outside funding.  Funding could possibly come from sources like USEPA Grant, a State Revolving Fund, a Downtown Revitalization Grant, a Transit Oriented Development Grant, a Privatized Sewer District Formation, Housing Redevelopment Grants or Industrial Redevelopment Grants.

  For more information regarding this project please visit http://swsuffolksewers.org/Home_Page_Project.php

Suffolk County Expanding Sewer System

SUFFOLK COUNTY, NEW YORK

631-447-5252

Suffolk County Long Island could be taking more than 20 sewer districts by the Suffolk County Water Authority. The county is looking at ways to expand its sewer system to boost development, which will include a possible sale or a sale with the county’s water authority.

County Executive Steve Bellone, included the initiative in his $2/77 billion budget plan he presented on Friday, September 21^st for the fiscal year that starts on January 1. Bellone will be working closely with the Legislature on this issue and no sale or change in sewer will undergo without a full vetting and Legislative authorization.

This decision will affect Suffolk County and preservationists have argued against expanding the sewer system saying it will lead to over- development. 

For more information on the Suffolk County Sewer Expansion, CLICK HERE.