Goals

The purpose of the Water Quality Improvement Division is to protect, restore, and improve Suffolk County’s ground and surface waters. Protecting and maintaining the quality of our groundwater resources is especially important in Suffolk County because we are located above a federally designated Sole Source Aquifer system. This means that 100% of our drinking water comes from these natural underground reservoirs therefore preserving the integrity of our groundwater systems is critical for public health.

The protection and restoration of the vast arrays of surface waters in Suffolk County is extremely important in maintaining the ecosystem services that our natural aquatic environment provides. Suffolk County is surrounded by three vital estuary systems: the South Shore Estuary Reserve, the Peconic Estuary, and the Long Island Sound and contains numerous rivers, streams, tributaries, lakes, and ponds. Protecting and restoring Suffolk County’s fresh and saltwater systems is crucial for preserving and benefiting the environmental, economic, aesthetic, and recreational advantages afforded to our community by our unique aquatic environment.

Responsibilities

• Administer the ¼% sales tax funded Water Quality Protection and Restoration Program and Land Stewardship Initiatives (WQPRP)
• Administer the "Healthy Lawns, Clean Water" Fertilizer Reduction Program
• Implement the Integrated Pest Management Program for County properties
• Implement the Stormwater Management Program
• Initiate and manage Coastal Resilience projects
• Implement the Lake Ronkonkoma Watershed Management Plan