Press Releases

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

December 28, 2009
Around The Clock Testing, All Year Long

The Suffolk County Water Authority is committed to providing customers with clean and safe water. The Water Authority tests its water 24 hours a day, 365 days a year based on rigorous internal requirements that far exceed state and federal quality standards.

“New York State has some of the strictest drinking water quality goals in the country. Suffolk County Water Authority’s internal standards are twice as strict as those New York State goals and exceed all Federal Drinking Water Standards,” said SCWA Chairman Michael LoGrande. “Our high standards for testing guarantee that our customers will continue to receive the safest water possible.”

The Suffolk County Water Authority operates, around the clock, the 6th largest nationally accredited and certified groundwater-testing facility in the United States, and tests for more than 200 different pollutants. The Water Authority lab, which has the technology to find contaminants at levels of parts per trillion, has played an instrumental role in the development of new testing methodologies for the EPA.

Tests are performed on drinking water samples taken from the 235 pump stations scattered around Suffolk County where the water is pumped out of the ground and treated; samples taken from the underground distribution system of 5,800 miles of water pipe running under the streets; and samples taken from customers homes and businesses. Over 63,555 samples have been tested this year. All results are forwarded to the County and State Public Health Departments.

“Our customers can be assured about the quality of their drinking water because our lab is on the job all day, every day,” noted SCWA Board Member Patrick Halpin. “That includes at night, over the weekend, even holidays.”