If you live in what’s being called The Triangle, an area in and around the Town Center, you’ve probably received a letter offering an option to “Yes! Please test my water for free.”
That’s because the Town, through its Water Advisory Committee, has teamed up with Goldman Water Testing of Southold to study water quality conditions in this area.
Goldman will test for nitrates, nitrites, ammonia, e coli, coliform, and MBAS (common detergents), the WAC says in the letter. “These are indicators of wastewater in the drinking water.”
“We are reaching out to you because your property is located within an area identified by the US Geological Survey as ‘at risk’ for high nitrate levels in the groundwater,” the WAC says.
The reason for the study, the WAC says, is “many have reported unhealthy levels of nitrogen in their well water.”
Councilwoman Meg Larsen told Town Board members at Tuesday’s work session, “what we’re looking to do is collect data on an area of the Island that was historically highlighted as possibly having high nitrate levels.”
“That way we’ll have a better understanding of what’s happening in the Center,” she said.
While there is a nitrogen problem, Councilwoman BJ Ianfolla pointed out, “We don’t know the extent of it.”
Retaining data anonymity
The Town elected to partner with Goldman Water Testing to retain data anonymity for homeowners who opt to have their well water tested. While Goldman will mail homeowners the testing results, it will not send the confidential data to the Town or WAC.
Instead, it will strip the data of identifying details and report it back to the Town grouped with others in smaller areas within The Triangle.
“The information provided will only be discussed broadly, as it pertains to areas,” the WAC letter says. “At no time will your property be specifically identified in the discussions that take place.”
This protects property owners from the unwarranted release of sensitive water quality information. If the Town received the full test results, they’d be subject to the Freedom of Information Law, making them vulnerable to public view.
But the disaggregated data, the WAC says, “will allow for informed decisions and will provide essential information to understanding the quality of our groundwater.”
Once homeowners have signed up, the WAC will request Water Quality Improvement Project funds to cover the costs of the water testing program.
The Triangle
The area of interest is in the center of the Island, largely away from shorelines, although it does capture the upper portion of Menantic Creek and a bit of West Neck Creek. It encompasses Fresh Pond and other smaller freshwater bodies.
Traveling clockwise, the northern point of the slightly tilted triangular area is around the intersection of Wade and Ram Island roads. From there, a long leg runs south to the sharp bend where South Midway Road meets Lake Drive.
From there, The Triangle’s shortest leg runs west-northwest to where Daniel Lord Road dead-ends at West Neck Creek. The second long leg runs northeast back to the starting point.
The Triangle includes about 423 properties. Larsen said the letters went out Friday, and the Town has already received 50 responses, “so, I’m optimistic.”
