The Department of Environmental Conservation is expected to weigh in soon on whether the Suffolk County Water Authority can tap the Lloyd Aquifer, Long Island's deepest and cleanest source of drinking water. 

An administrative law judge reviewing the case has recommended that the DEC approve the water authority's application. Final briefs from both sides are due July 20. DEC Commisioner Pete Grannis will made a determination after that deadline.

The water authority hopes to pump water from the Lloyd into a Northport supply well, which is currently closed due to low levels of pollution from fertilizer runoff, in order to have a water supply that meets federal cleanliness standards.

The Suffolk County Water Authority plan has been met with opposition from many Long Island residents who rely on the Lloyd Aquifer for drinking water. The state has restricted pumping from the Lloyd to coastal towns because their wells have been contaminated by seawater. Some residents in coastal towns see the plan as an attempt by the water authority to not clean up its water supply, and as a contamination threat to their clean water supply.

Read more about the debate over the Lloyd Aquifer here.