Huntington officials eye restoring spring water flow

Responding to requests from residents thirsting to have access to the Cold Spring Harbor natural spring restored, Huntington Town officials say they will explore possible options with the Suffolk County health department.

Last month the town cut two pipes set up by residents to tap the unauthorized water source on town-owned property across Route 25A from the Cold Spring Harbor Library. That was after the county health department sent a letter to the town advising officials that the public should not have access to the spring because the water is unregulated.

At Tuesday night's town board meeting several speakers asked the board to exhaust all efforts to have access to the spring restored.

"Power comes from the people, and the people want the water," said Joe Oliva of Huntington, who has organized residents who want to drink from the spring. "The Town of Huntington should take action for the people and not simply acquiesce to the county."

Town Supervisor Frank Petrone said he expects to meet with county health department officials in early July. "We're going to try to sort it out with them," Petrone said.

Michael Pellegrino, speaking at his first town board meeting, said the spring is a historic landmark and the town should fight to give residents what they want.

"The Town of Huntington should be banding together," Pellegrino said.

After hearing from several more speakers, Petrone said town officials would investigate, but he reiterated that the county is the regulatory agency when it comes to water.

"We want to get to the bottom of this, too. Do you think we want to cut this off?" Petrone said.