From left to right: Evidence Clerk Candice McCready, Evidence Clerk Michael Zoeller, Officer Edward McQuaid, Evidence Clerk Jay Schechter, SCWA Director of Communications & External Affairs, and Sergeant Tom Kennedy.
The Suffolk County Water Authority, in collaboration with the Suffolk County Police Department’s 4th Precinct, held a Pharmaceutical Take Back Day on Saturday, September 28th. Over 260 pounds of expired and unused pharmaceuticals were collected, ensuring these medications were safely disposed of and prevented from contaminating the region’s aquifer. Improper disposal of pharmaceuticals—such as flushing or landfilling—can lead to harmful chemicals leaching into the water supply, posing a significant risk to drinking water quality.
This event also served as the kick-off for Source Water Protection Week, which runs from September 29th to October 5th. Those that participated in the event were invited into SCWA’s education center to learn more about the organization's history and how it delivers high-quality drinking water to its customers. Educational materials were distributed on both water conservation and treatment processes.
“The turnout for this event is a clear example of the public’s willingness to help protect our water supply,” said SCWA Director of Communications & External Affairs Dan Dubois. “SCWA puts a lot of work into ensuring the water we deliver to our customers is the highest quality. Testing and treating for contaminants take a lot of resources, so the best thing we can do is to stop them from ever getting into the aquifer in the first place.”
Inspector David Regina, Commanding Officer of the Suffolk County Police Department Fourth Precinct said, "The partnership with the Suffolk County Water Authority is a win-win for the Police Department and the community. Not only can we support SCWA’s mission to provide safe high-quality water to the residents of Suffolk County, but the community also greatly benefits from harm-reduction strategies by disposing of unwanted medications safely. SCWA's Pharmaceutical Take Back Program is a great initiative that provides an opportunity to prevent accidental overdoses and potential drug diversion."
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.