Bay Park Conveyance Project Hits New Milestone

BAY PARK, NY — The Nassau County Legislature unanimously approved a design-build contract with the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) and Western Bays Constructors today, which is a significant milestone for the Bay Park Conveyance Project.

The approval of the $439 million Bay Park Conveyance Project is designed to restore the ecosystem and water quality in the South Western Bays by conveying treated effluent from the Bay Park Sewage Treatment Plant to the Cedar Creek Water Pollution Control Plant’s ocean outfall pipe through underground tunnels. The project will significantly reduce nitrogen loading from wastewater effluent entering the Western Bays each year to achieve significant resiliency benefits. Gov. Andrew Cuomo announced the selection of Western Bays Constructors as the design-build contractor for the project on Nov. 6.

“I thank Governor Cuomo for his commitment to Long Island’s environment and the Legislature for unanimously approving one of the most significant and innovative ecological projects in Long Island history,” said Nassau County Executive Laura Curran. “The Bay Park Conveyance Project will improve water quality and rejuvenate critical marshland and marine life in the bays, resulting in greater storm resiliency and revitalized recreational and economic activities for one of Nassau's most treasured natural resources.”

Built in 1949, the Bay Park Sewage Treatment Plant serves more than half a million Nassau County residents and discharges an average of 52 million gallons of treated effluent into the Western Bays each day, adversely affecting some 10,000 acres of water and tidal marshland. The nitrogen contained in treated effluent breaks down and severely damages coastal marshes, which serve as natural storm surge barriers and protect hundreds of thousands of residents and millions of dollars in property along the South Shore of Long Island.

The design-build contract will next require the approval of the Nassau County Comptroller, Nassau County Finance Control Board and Curran before it is submitted to the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation, New York State Attorney General and Comptroller for final approval. Construction of the project will take less than three years.