Suffolk County Water Authority contractors are completing a project to replace nearly 5,000 feet worth of aging, undersized, transite water main in Copiague, with new and durable PVC main, improving the neighborhood’s distribution network and ensuring proper fire protection for area residents.
The existing six-inch transite water main, installed when the Copiague neighborhood was first constructed, is prone to breaking, but the 12-inch diameter PVC piping being installed by SCWA is significantly more durable, and its flexibility makes it resistant to breaks.
“This work is all part of our robust, proactive main replacement program,” said SCWA Board Chairman Patrick Halpin. “Our operations team is constantly looking at our infrastructure and identifying areas for improvement. Anywhere we still see transite main in Suffolk County, that is an area we want to address, and our team does a fantastic job.”
Halpin recently visited the Copiague project site along with Suffolk County Legislator Kevin McCaffrey and Babylon Town Councilman DuWayne Gregory.
“The replacement of these water mains is essential to the residents of Copiague,” said Legislator McCaffrey. “The aging water infrastructure, installed when the neighborhood was first constructed in the 1950’s, was built with six-inch transite mains. These pipes are highly susceptible to water main breaks and leaks that reduce water pressure. This necessary upgrade will improve and maintain the water pressure and will improve fire protection in the surrounding neighborhood.”
“I commend the Suffolk County Water Authority for their level of investment and commitment to maintaining quality water service,” said Councilman Gregory “Maintenance operations like this are challenging logistically, but they are doing it seamlessly and without interruption of service.”
The project, expected to be completed by mid-May, replaces all of the water main underneath Buena Vista Boulevard, as well as replacements and tie-ins on side streets East Granada Avenue, East Hampton Road, East Santa Barbara Road, East Alhambra Avenue, East Belleterre Avenue, and East Clearwater Road. In total, the nearly 5,000 feet of water main and tie-ins will cost $2.5 million.
Water service to customers on Buena Vista Boulevard and its surrounding side streets will continue even while this work is in progress over the next two weeks. All service lines connected to the existing water main will be transferred over to the new water main. Customers will be notified with a knock on their door before their service is interrupted. Once all customers have been successfully switched over, the old water main will be retired.
The Suffolk County Water Authority is an independent public-benefit corporation operating under the authority of the Public Authorities Law of the State of New York. Serving approximately 1.2 million Suffolk County residents, the Authority operates without taxing power on a not-for-profit basis.
Caption info: (from left to right): SCWA Pipeline Inspector Andrew Skurka, Babylon Town Councilman DuWayne Gregory, Suffolk County Legislator Kevin McCaffrey, and SCWA Board Chairman Patrick Halpin at the work site off of Buena Vista Boulevard in Copiague.