Tests will help determine how the drainage system contributes to water quality

Tests will help determine how the drainage system contributes to water quality

Farmingville, NY – Supervisor Mark Lesko and Councilman Daniel J. Panico have announced that the Town of Brookhaven will be overseeing tests of the drainage systems near the Forge River starting the week of August 20th and running through October. The tests, known as “smoke tests,” will push artificial and non-toxic smoke at a low pressure through drainage systems in the area to identify pipe connections that drain into the river. Stormwater and waste from residential areas are collected by storm drains (also know as catch basins) as part of the rainwater collection system and are discharged into the river through outfalls. The stormwater from residential areas receives no treatment before entering the river, leading to contamination from lawn fertilizers, pet wastes, and other pollutants.

The results of these tests will then be used in the Total Maximum Daily Load (TMDL) project, which helps scientists determine the maximum amount of nitrogen that the Forge River can receive while still maintaining a healthy ecosystem. The TMDL project is currently underway and will take two years to complete.

Supervisor Mark Lesko said, “The Forge River is a crucial part of our ecosystem that has been degraded by nearby overdevelopment and pollutants. The smoke tests are another step that we are taking towards improving the health of the Forge River.”

"The coming smoke testing of our stormwater outflow pipes is another step in tracking and mapping road runoff into the Forge River," said Town Councilman Daniel J. Panico, "Residents should not be alarmed at the sight of smoke coming from these outflows as it is part of the controlled testing process."

The Town’s contractors will be utilizing a Superior Signal model 20-S smoke generator, which uses one and three minute smoke grenades. The smoke generator will be placed either at an outfall pipe along the river or a catch basin located on the street. The smoke, which is harmless and generally dissipates within minutes of testing, will then exit the system from any connected structures.

The Forge River has a history of water quality issues and is classified as "Impaired Waters" due to the excessive levels of nitrogen entering the river. Nitrogen sources include stormwater discharges, unsewered high density residential development and the River’s own sediments, which were deposited during decades of extensive duck farming that employed minimal waste treatment.

Division of Public Information * Office of the Supervisor
One Independence Hill • Farmingville • NY 11738 • Phone (631) 451-6595 • Fax (631) 451-6258