Mangano Issues Public Health Emergency

Editor’s Note: This article was written and submitted by Tara Conry.

To protect the health of residents and stop sewage from backing up into homes, hospitals, schools, firehouses, nursing homes and restaurants, Nassau County Executive Edward P. Mangano announced Wednesday that the County and State critical response teams, aided by Governor Andrew Cuomo, State Senate Majority Leader Dean Skelos and New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg, are relieving sewage pressure values throughout the Bay Park Sewage Treatment System and securing pumps to divert sewage from backing up houses and streets.

The critical response team of engineers is actively initiating a three-part Mitigation Plan:

1. Immediately - Emergency relief will divert raw sewage to Rockaway Channel
2. Up to 30 Days - Triage repairs to the Bay Park Sewage Treatment Plant anticipates partial treatment of sewage.
3. 6 - 12 months - Comprehensive repair of the facility.  Initial assessments indicate that repair will require replacement parts to be engineered, manufactured and replaced.  The assessment process is ongoing and plans will be updated as they become available.

Tidal surges caused by Hurricane Sandy resulted in flooding in the Bay Park Sewage Treatment Plant.  Damage to this critical infrastructure generally impacts all residents within the Bay Park Sewage Treatment System.

The Nassau County Commissioner of Health warns residents to avoid contact with sewage which initially may backup at manhole covers and basement drains.  The Nassau County Department of Health advises residents to:

• avoid contact with sewage;
• wear gloves and use soap and water for any required clean-up, followed by disinfecting the area with a 10% household bleach solution; and
• items which cannot be cleaned must be discarded.

Until further notice, a Conserve Water Order is now active and residents of the Bay Park Sewage District are directed to:

• limit water usage immediately, including a ban on watering grass and washing cars;
• limit laundry and washer/dryer usage to full loads;
• shorten shower time; and
• limit flushing toilets.

Residents with non-life threatening emergencies, such as sewage backup, should dial 1-888-684-4274.  All those with life threatening emergencies should dial 911.  For more information on the Conserve Water Order, please visit www.nassaucountyny.gov/health.