Press Releases

Contact: Public Relations Department
Suffolk County Water Authority
PO Box 37
Oakdale NY 11769
(631) 563-0296

April 27, 2009
SCWA Celebrates Earth/Arbor Day With Sachem High School Students

The Suffolk County Water Authority, with the help of more than 35 Sachem High School students, recently (Wednesday, April 22) planted Skip Laurel, Prague Viburnum, Korean Spice Viburnum and Crepe Myrtle to celebrate Earth Day. The plants were put in between the Sachem High School property and the Water Authority pump station located on Granny Road in Farmingville.

In addition to a hands-on lesson in environmental stewardship, students received special t-shirts (made from 50% recycled plastic bottles, 50% recycled cotton), SCWA reusable ‘Kick the Habit’ water bottles as well as special edition Arbor Day posters.

As part of the Suffolk County Water Authority’s continued Community Arboretum Project, these large plants and shrubs join over fifty large specimen trees planted across Suffolk. Taking advantage of the open space available on Suffolk Water Authority well sites, the SCWA Community Arboretum Project is dedicated to planting several large trees per year.

Calling the Community Arboretum Project, and the recent Earth/Arbor Day tree planting, a way of giving back to the community, SCWA Chairman Michael LoGrande said, “It is great when we get a chance to do something with the kids. They are the future guardians of our groundwater. For years to come these students and their teachers will be able to look next door and not only get a good reminder of what Earth and Arbor Days are really all about, but also enjoy a sense of accomplishment at having planted the trees and done their part.”

Explaining the extensive effort put in by the SCWA over the years as part of the Community Arboretum Project, SCWA CEO Stephen Jones said that “Because of the nature of our well sites, trees have the room to spread out and grow unencumbered by the usual neighborhood restraints like streets, overhead wires and houses. With more than 250 well sites in Suffolk, the SCWA is in a unique position of providing the space necessary to let these trees grow to their fullest extent.”

The Suffolk County Water Authority is an independent public-benefit corporation operating by virtue of the Public Authorities Law of the State of New York. Serving almost 1.2 million of Suffolk’s County’s residents, it operates without taxing power on a not-for-profit basis.