A Staten Island restaurant has allegedly been spewing raw sewage into Clove Lake for more than two decades, according to a whistleblower who claims both the eatery's owner and city park officials have failed to address the pollution. A dye test conducted by the city's Department of Environmental Protection on Tuesday confirmed that a damaged sewer line leading from The Stone House, a wedding venue and steakhouse located in Clove Lakes Park, is discharging waste into the lake.
The test involved introducing a green dye into the restaurant's toilets and a red dye into a sewer main connected to the restaurant's line. Both dyes reportedly appeared in the lake, indicating multiple breaks or collapses in the sewer system.
The New York State Department of Environmental Conservation has confirmed it is investigating a potential sewage discharge into Clove Lakes Park. The agency noted that the city Parks Department has jurisdiction over lake management, while the discharge itself is now a state matter. As of the report, specific test results for fecal coliform bacteria in the lake have not been provided by either the DEC or DEP, and it remains unclear if such tests have been conducted.
A whistleblower, described as a well-placed source, alleged that The Stone House has been aware of the faulty sewer line for years but continued to rent paddle boats to parkgoers, who were unknowingly exposed to the sewage. The restaurant building is owned by the city but operated by a vendor.
Documents reviewed by The Post indicate that the restaurant's 2022 licensing agreement with the city included a stipulation for $200,000 to be allocated for repairs, including plumbing and drainage structures. The agreement also stated that the vendor was responsible for repairing "two failing manholes" within the first year. An amendment to this agreement, signed by the vendor and a Parks Department official in July, acknowledged that both parties were aware of a "sewer line collapsed."
The source further claimed that the broken sewer line was an "open secret" and that the vendor has been paying significantly reduced rent with the understanding that he would cover the repair costs. The whistleblower also implicated former Staten Island Parks Department Borough Chief Lynda Ricciardone and her successor, Joseph Homsey, alleging they were long aware of the pollution but took no action.
This is not the first environmental issue reported at Clove Lakes Park. In March, The New York Times reported that Parks Department toilets had previously polluted a park creek, causing it to glow green after a dye test. The whistleblower suggested that repairing the lake would likely require it to be drained entirely or necessitate the construction of a dam.
Historical Plumbing Issues
A plumber who previously worked at The Stone House approximately 20 years ago, before the current operators took over, stated that the restaurant's pipes were consistently problematic, experiencing frequent blockages. The vendor, Homsey, and the Parks Department did not respond to requests for comment. Ricciardone could not be reached.