The water we deliver to our customers is of excellent quality, meeting and often surpassing local, state and federal standards. It is important for the public to be aware of the rigorous regulations all public water suppliers must meet. The Suffolk County Water Authority complies with strictly-enforced standards established by the United States Environmental Protection Agency and the New York State Health Department. New York State's standards are among the most stringent in the country.
SCWA tests water at the wellhead, at various stages of treatment and at various points within the distribution system for a wide range of parameters, including bacteria, inorganic chemicals and volatile organic compounds. Though we are required by law to test for volatile organic compounds at each well site four times a year, if there is an environmental concern near any of our wells, or if minute traces of a regulated constituent have already been found at a well site, SCWA will test at a greater frequency. We believe that to truly ensure a safe drinking water supply for all customers at all times, an aggressive and comprehensive approach to testing is necessary.
When wells are in need of remediation, SCWA uses treatment systems, such as granular activated carbon (GAC), to remove contaminants from the water supply so the water we serve you always meets state and federal regulations.
In addition to the monitoring that Suffolk County Water Authority does on a regular basis, the Suffolk County Department of Health Services also routinely performs tests of the public water supply at the wellhead and at various parts in the distribution system. The purpose of all this monitoring is to ensure that the highest quality water is served to consumers.
SCWA has its own state-of-the-art water testing laboratory that in 2018 produced 167,000 test results and tested for 400 chemicals—251 more than required by regulators.
The below diagram demonstrates the journey your water takes from Long Island’s underground aquifer system to your tap.
