Climate Change and Infrastructure Resilience: How Long Island Property Owners Can Future-Proof Their Sewer and Water Systems Against Extreme Weather

Long Island property owners are facing an unprecedented challenge as climate change poses new threats to water quality, with toxic algal blooms supercharged by climate, and infrastructure ill-equipped for new climate realities. Recent extreme weather events have demonstrated just how vulnerable aging sewer and water systems can be when Mother Nature unleashes her fury.

The Growing Threat: Recent Extreme Weather on Long Island

The urgency of infrastructure resilience became starkly apparent during the historic flooding that struck Long Island in August 2024. Parts of Long Island received up to 10 inches of rain between Saturday night and Monday morning, August 17-19, with Sound Beach, Miller Place, Port Jefferson Station, Stony Brook, Centereach, and Setauket-East Setauket among the hardest hit areas. NBC News notes that such an event only occurs once every 1,000 years.

This “thousand-year storm” caused widespread flooding, leading to road closures and extensive property damage to homes and businesses, with dams at Stump Pond in Smithtown and Mill Pond in Stony Brook breached, resulting in significant infrastructure damage. The event highlighted a critical vulnerability: more than 70% of Suffolk County relies on cesspools and septics as opposed to sewers, with large areas like Stony Brook needing sewers.

Understanding Infrastructure Vulnerabilities

Long Island’s water infrastructure faces multiple climate-related challenges. Factors such as over-pumping, population increase, pollutants, and climate change can stress the aquifer system and public water supply. Additionally, increases in aquifer recharge and sea level in response to climate change can increase water levels and stream flows, creating concerns for groundwater flooding of subterranean infrastructure in low-lying areas.

The region’s aging sewer systems are particularly vulnerable. Observed increases in heavy precipitation and other extreme events can threaten these systems, while heavy precipitation events can overwhelm the capacity of combined sewer systems, resulting in untreated effluent overflowing the system and pouring into nearby waterways.

Proactive Solutions for Property Owners

Property owners don’t have to wait for municipal upgrades to begin protecting their investments. Several proactive measures can significantly improve resilience:

Upgrade to Modern Sewer Connections

For properties still relying on outdated septic systems, connecting to modern sewer infrastructure represents one of the most effective upgrades. Thousands of homes in the Carlls River and Forge River Watersheds manage wastewater via on-site systems like septic tanks and cesspools, with outdated systems prone to capacity failure as residents frequently need to limit household tasks.

When considering such upgrades, working with experienced professionals is crucial. Long Island Sewer and Water Main has been serving the home and business owners of the Long Island and New York City areas with plumbing needs for nearly 40 years, repairing and maintaining the sewer systems of Suffolk County and Nassau County.

Implement Green Infrastructure Solutions

Green infrastructure can significantly reduce flooding risks. Various Water Sensitive Urban Design techniques have been identified for reducing sewer overflows, with permeable pavements, green roofs, raingardens/bio-retention cells and rainwater tanks being the most popular strategies.

Regular System Maintenance and Inspection

By preparing for projected changes, facilities will be more resilient and will minimize or eliminate service disruptions. By proactively preparing for impacts from severe weather instead of reactively responding to events, unnecessary water infrastructure costs will be avoided over the lifetime of the assets.

Advanced Technologies for Future-Proofing

Modern trenchless technologies offer significant advantages for infrastructure upgrades. Using trenchless technologies provides more efficient, convenient, and cost-effective sewer line services to residents and businesses across Long Island. These methods minimize disruption to properties while ensuring robust, long-lasting installations.

Directional drilling, in particular, offers precision installation capabilities. Precision is crucial when it comes to water line installation and sewer line installation, with directional drilling excelling in this aspect. Highly trained teams utilize state-of-the-art technology to ensure pipes are accurately placed, minimizing the risk of future leaks, blockages, or other costly issues.

Financial Support and Incentives

Property owners shouldn’t shoulder the entire financial burden alone. Governor Hochul announced a $500 million funding commitment for clean water, with initiatives to reduce water bills, combat flooding, restore waterways, and replace lead service lines. Additionally, Suffolk County’s Proposition 2 will secure $4 billion over 30 years to modernize wastewater infrastructure, financed by adding one-eighth of a cent to the county sales tax, generating $4.2 billion for clean water restoration.

Taking Action Today

The time for action is now. Climate experts suggest that extreme weather events are becoming less of a rare occurrence and more of a regular challenge, making it essential for homeowners and businesses to be prepared for the unexpected.

Property owners should begin by conducting thorough assessments of their current systems, considering both immediate vulnerabilities and long-term resilience needs. Sewer maintenance and repair are urgent matters that should always be addressed as soon as possible, whether for major sewer line repair or routine sewer and drain cleaning.

The combination of climate change impacts, aging infrastructure, and increasing extreme weather events creates a perfect storm of challenges for Long Island property owners. However, by taking proactive steps today—from system upgrades and regular maintenance to implementing green infrastructure solutions—property owners can significantly improve their resilience against future extreme weather events. The investment in infrastructure resilience today will pay dividends in reduced damage, fewer disruptions, and greater peace of mind as our climate continues to change.