Letters

Clean water is on the ballot this Election Day, and we urge Southampton Town residents to flip the ballot and vote yes for Proposition 2, and Proposition 3, the clean water questions.

After more than a decade of research, scientists have confirmed that nitrogen from outdated and failing septic systems is the primary controllable source of nitrogen pollution leading to the declining health of our bays and harbors all across Suffolk County.

If passed, Prop 2, will establish a stable source of dedicated funding for the next 35 years to help homeowners pay for the replacement of their current septic systems with advanced nitrogen removal technology.

The funds will be generated by an one-eighth of a cent increase in the Suffolk County sales tax, which amounts to about 12 cents on a taxable $100 purchase.

Southampton voters also will have the opportunity, through Proposition 3 on their ballot, to decide whether the Town of Southampton should secure additional watershed land for the protection of Lake Agawam while authorizing the temporary installation of an already funded algae harvester on parkland located behind the Southampton Village parking lot. The overall environmental benefit of this proposal makes sense to us and furthers the substantial community work and investment that has been undertaken to help clean up Lake Agawam.

Given the critical importance of clean water to our East End way of life, we think both of these initiatives are well worth the public investment.

As a result, we urge Southampton voters to please flip their ballots and vote yes on Props 2 and 3.

Bob DeLuca

President

Group for the East End