Suffolk County Executive Steve Bellone and Nassau County Executive Ed Mangano were the guest speakers at our first-ever Long Island Executive Breakfast.Wastewater is one of the toughest environmental issues on Long Island.

Sewage treatment plants in Nassau County are aging and in need of repair, while in Suffolk County, drinking-water supplies are routinely threatened by failed septic tanks.

To fully assess the region's wastewater challenges -- and brainstorm ideas for improvement -- NYLCV's Long Island Chapter convened our first-ever Executive Breakfast on Wednesday in Farmingdale. 

Our expert panel included Kevin McDonald, John Cameron and Kevin Law.NYLCV brought together two of the island's top leaders, Nassau County Executive Ed Mangano and Suffolk County Executive Steve Bellone, along with members of the business and environmental communities. Our goal was to establish a candid and productive dialogue about Long Island's wastewater concerns and map out potential remedies. 

Click here to see more photos from the event.

Wednesday's Executive Breakfast marked the kickoff of NYLCV's newly expanded Long Island Chapter, under the leadership of Michael Posillico, our new chapter chair. 

Nassau County Executive Ed Mangano, NYLCV Long Island Chapter Chair Michael Posillico and former Ambassador Charles GarganoWith new members hailing from all parts of Nassau and Suffolk Counties, NYLCV's Long Island Chapter is playing a major role in policy and politics in the region. 

And we've got a busy summer ahead in the region. In just a few days, NYLCV will release our 2012-2013 Long Island Policy Agenda, a guide that will help municipal leaders make their towns and cities more sustainable. 

NYLCV will also prepare an Action Plan for the county executives to make specific policy recommendations on the issue of wastewater, to help achieve the breakthroughs needed to protect the environment.