An inter-municipal agreement will help Sea Cliff property owners to connect to the village’s recently enlarged sanitary sewer system, County Legislator Delia DeRiggi-Whitton announced July 13.

The agreement will direct $1.725 million of federal American Rescue Plan Act funding. It will offer 230 property owners who may now join the sewer system up to $7,500 in help.

In a statement to Blank Slate Media, DeRiggi-Whitton welcomed the news.

“Expanding Sea Cliff’s sewer system will deliver tremendous environmental, economic and quality-of-life benefits,” she said. “But we must always remain focused on making this crucial investment in our future as affordable as possible for current property owners.”

The village finished the 8,310 linear feet of the new sanitary sewer line in July 2021. It runs along parts of Prospect, Maple, 12th, Sea Cliff, Summit, Central, 8th and 7th Avenues, as well as the entirety of Fairview Place.

Bruce Kennedy, Sea Cliff’s administrator, said many are unaware of the duration of such a municipal project. He said the project progressed over the course of five administrations.

“Now that this phase of this project is completed, it is a huge incentive to the property owners to actually connect being that the costs associated with it are being subsidized by the county,” he said. “Recognition of Nassau County – especially Legislator DeRiggi-Whitton – is due for their partnership through this sustainable capital project.”

The village website states its goal is to link every property in Sea Cliff to a sanitary sewage line. However, because of financial limitations, this process will take some time.

“It was decided many years ago that the priority would be our business district and the properties closest to our waterfront for environmental reasons,” it reads. “Further, all current plans are for properties that can be serviced via gravity lines as pumping stations are cost-prohibitive at this time.”

Any property that can connect to a sewage line will have a home connection placed by the street at the property line, according to the county.

The depth and position of the house connection will nearly mirror the line already leaving the home. One may connect to a private dwelling at their own expense.

All properties that are a part of the sewer plan must join within two years of the sewer becoming operational. These properties will also become a part of the Nassau County Sewer District and pay the associated taxes.

Sea Cliff Mayor Elena Villafane commended Legislator DeRiggi-Whitton for her foresight.

“She has been a fierce advocate for the environment and for the residents of Nassau County,” she said. “[They] will all benefit from this investment in the future that a clean harbor provides.”