The Suffolk County Water Authority this month completed eight water main extensions on the South Fork from Eastport to Springs totaling more than 10,000 feet of new pipe. The projects range from a 186-foot extension on Barclay Court in East Hampton to a 2,893-foot extension on Oyster Pond Lane, also in East Hampton.
The main extension projects, from west to east:
- 1,378 feet on Sunrise Highway Service Road in Eastport
- 209 feet on West Side Avenue in East Quogue
- 584 feet on Parrish Road in North Sea
- 1,910 feet on Whalebone Landing in North Sea
- 2,524 feet on Wainscott Stone Road, Fernwood Road and Merriwood Drive in Wainscott
- 186 feet on Barclay Court in East Hampton
- 2,893 feet on Oyster Pond Lane in East Hampton
- 580 feet on Kings Point Road, Springs
“These pipes will add to our growing infrastructure on the East End and provide safe and constantly tested water to dozens of new customers,” said SCWA Chief Executive Officer Jeff Szabo.
In addition to being subject to rigorous tests from the New York State Department of Health and U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, public water from SCWA comes with many advantages. With
increased water pressure and the availability of nearby hydrants, public water brings improved fire protection and may lower homeowner’s insurance. With public water, customers are far more likely to maintain service during a weather emergency—while many Suffolk residents who use private wells were without water service for days when electricity service was out following SuperStorm Sandy, virtually all SCWA customers, with the exception of those on Fire Island, still had use of their water supply.
With public water, there is no need to maintain a well pump, which can cost thousands of dollars to replace or repair. Nor is there a need to purchase and maintain a water softener or filter, since SCWA water is tested around the clock, 365 days a year, and trace amounts of lime are added to the water supply to neutralize pH and prevent corrosion of pipes. Trace amounts of chlorine are also added to the SCWA supply to prevent the growth of bacteria such as e. coli in the water supply.
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.