On a day dedicated to environmental awareness, a group of Long Island students turned to one of New York’s most recognizable foods to make their point: the future of the region’s water supply could change something as simple, and beloved, as a bagel.

Speaking before a crowd of 200 people on Earth Day, April 22, eight students — Andrea Cheah, Eve Feldman, Ezra Furstenberg, Isabella Falco, Kush Taparia, Max Kreisler, Sophia Leder and Vivian Muller — delivered a fast-paced, 20-minute presentation outlining growing concerns about Long Island’s groundwater system.

The event also marked the official public launch of “LI Groundwater Rebalance 2050,” a regional initiative aimed at addressing water overuse, saltwater intrusion and long-term sustainability.

“What happens to a New York bagel when the water changes?” the students asked at the start of their talk, using the familiar staple to connect a complex environmental issue to everyday life.

The presentation, held in Port Washington and attendedby water suppliers, elected officials and environmental stakeholders, highlighted mounting pressure on Long Island’s sole-source aquifer, the underground system that provides all of the region’s drinking water.

According to the students’ research, Long Islanders use about 140 gallons of water per person each day, significantly higher than the national average. That level of demand, combined with seasonal spikes from lawn irrigation and ongoing development, is placing increasing strain on the aquifer system.

“As we pump more and more water, though, the saute force also draws in some salt water from the bag,” one student said during the presentation. “Eventually, this salt water makes it to our aquifers.”

The process, known as saltwater intrusion, occurs when excessive groundwater pumping allows seawater to move inland and contaminate freshwater reserves. The students warned that rising sea levels and climate change are accelerating the problem, particularly in coastal areas.

“This is not something far away or theoretical,” one student said. “It’s already happening, and it’s getting worse.”

The students’ message combined scientific explanation with a sense of urgency about the future. In one segment, they asked the audience to imagine Long Island in 2050, where water could be increasingly scarce or contaminated.

Source: LI Press