Nassau's water conservation is slipping

Regarding "Study can aim to keep aquifers clean" [News, June 8], it's too bad that Nassau County does not have the same insight as Suffolk into water's critical value. Years ago, Nassau dismantled its system of long-term monitoring. This year, it even cut the measly budget line to keep a skeleton monitoring system in place. From what I understand, whatever data the county is tracking is not compatible with the federal water-data collection system.

In the past, Nassau studied the "water balance," which was critical knowledge to the installation of sewers. Back then, we were aware that we had the future of streams, salt marshes and bays in our hands.

Today, the issue is even more critical. The drive to develop Long Island depends on the availability of drinking water. The tension between taking water and losing wetlands still exists. The ecosystems of bays and wetlands are more fragile than 20 years ago. Nassau, according to the U.S. Geological Survey, pumps more water from aquifers than any other county from Washington, D.C., to Boston.

Last summer's water shortages should be an awakening. The spike in demand put great stress on the ability to have water run from the faucet. This was the result of irrigation without regard to conservation. There are no police powers granted to water providers. If 10,000 home sprinklers are running inappropriately, you cannot call 911 and expect results.

If we are uninformed and accept overuse now, how does anyone expect a future?

Michael Kosinski, East Hills

Editor's note: The writer is on the board of the Roslyn Water District.