Courtesy of the Town of Smithtown
Smithtown NY – The Town of Smithtown has earned a new designation – being one of two towns on Long Island to achieve Bronze Status in the New York State Nitrogen Smart Communities Program.
Smithtown joins the Town of North Hempstead as the only two municipalities on the Island to achieve this feat.
The program, established by the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) and the Long Island Regional Planning Council (LIRPC), highlights local governments committed to combating nitrogen pollution and protecting water quality. The distinction means Smithtown has taken steps to safeguard its groundwater, salt marshes, and estuaries.
The overall problem of nitrogen pollution has been one of the foremost topics in terms of water quality for the greater region. While nitrogen itself isn’t overly harmful, excess levels stem from antiquated wastewater infrastructure, fertilizers, and road runoff, which promulgate algae blooms, fish kills, and worsens the quality of Long Island’s crucial sole-source aquifer.
The recognition also comes off the heels of the Town Board’s adoption of the Nitrogen Smart Community Pledge, which saw the town form a dedicated Nitrogen Smart Communities Task Force. The task force consists of environmental staff, department leaders, and local stakeholders who are charged with spotting nitrogen sources and recommending initiatives to lower excess nitrogen levels.
“Our commitment is not symbolic—it’s strategic,” said Supervisor Ed Wehrheim (R-Kings Park) in a statement. “Being recognized as one of only two municipalities awarded Nitrogen Smart status by the Long Island Regional Planning Council and the New York State DEC is a tremendous honor for the Town of Smithtown. This achievement reflects our community’s unwavering dedication to protecting Long Island’s drinking water, coastal ecosystems, and the natural resources that define our quality of life.”
Wehrheim thanked a litany of members on the LIRPC and the Town’s Nitrogen Smart Task Force, hailing their “expertise, collaboration, and commitment.”
The Town, however, isn’t keen on stopping where it is. Community outreach remains at the forefront of its environmental remediation efforts. The 2025 Nitrogen Smart Communities Education and Outreach Plan charts the course to increase public awareness and encourage residents to do their part.
That initiative emphasizes public education, communicating the Town Board’s commitment to the issue, using technical, regulatory, and policy tools, and building partnerships with local organizations, school, civic groups, and stakeholders.
To achieve that result, the action plan further includes a dedicated Nitrogen Smart Community Webpage & Social Media Campaign, which will feature educational materials, updates, LIRPC resources, and guidance for homeowners, business owners, landscapers, and boaters. Public workshops will also be part in parcel to the initiative, as well as ensuring that marinas and environmental partners have a seat at the table as well.
