Crews dig out trenches on Wainscott-Northwest Road as they prepare to install more than 8,000 feet of new ductile iron water main.
The Suffolk County Water Authority (SCWA) is currently undertaking one of its biggest water main projects of 2024 in Wainscott. More than 8,000 feet, or just over 1.5 miles, of new ductile iron water main is set to be installed on Wainscott-Northwest Road, South Breeze Drive and Sag Harbor Turnpike, connecting different parts of the area’s distribution system. This will allow water to flow freely throughout the system, improving its reliability and fire flow. It also prepares the public water system to connect hundreds of homes on private water wells in East Hampton.
“The expansion of our water mains system is crucial to SCWA’s ability to provide the high level of water service our customers deserve,” said SCWA Chairman Charles Lefkowitz. “By connecting different parts of this area’s distribution system, we are ensuring that they run as efficiently as possible while maintaining the integrity of the existing infrastructure. There is a lot of interest in connecting to our system but, we have been concerned about our ability to serve all these new connections. This project gets us prepared for an influx of new customers.”
Although the specific area of Wainscott in which the water main will be installed is not particularly populous itself, the fact that it will connect several parts of the area’s distribution system will improve water service for residents throughout the hamlet and surrounding locations. SCWA is currently building a new set of public supply wells on Bull Path in Northwest Harbor. The expansion of water main in Wainscott prepares the system for the completion of the new well field later this year.
With the two projects complete, SCWA says it will be able to serve hundreds of new customers that are currently connected to private wells. These wells can be impacted by harmful contaminants that frequently go undetected because residents are not required to test their wells. Testing for emerging contaminants like PFAS can also be expensive. SCWA tests its water supply frequently and treats water to standards that are stricter than those required by federal and state government.
The project is expected to be completed in August.
About SCWA:
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.