From left to right: SCWA Chairman Charlie Lefkowitz, Brookhaven Supervisor Dan Panico, County Executive Ed Romaine, State Senator Dean Murray, Assemblywoman Jodi Giglio
The Suffolk County Water Authority today marked completion of Phase 1 of its South River Road water main project, one of the largest public water expansions undertaken in decades. The project delivers high quality public drinking water to residents in Calverton whose private wells were impacted by PFAS contamination discovered by the Suffolk County Department of Health Services (SCDHS) in 2022.
SCWA installed 20,000 feet of new water main, giving up to 92 homes access to a reliable public water supply. The $8.65 million project was fully funded through $5 million in Congressionally Directed Spending, $1.85 million through the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, and $1.8 million in American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funding from the Town of Brookhaven.
At a press conference today, officials also announced that Phase 2 of the project is now underway. Phase 2, which extends public water service to an additional 81 homes south of Nugent Drive, is supported by an additional $3.8 million in state and country grants. Phase 3, expected to be completed by the end of 2026, will connect 36 more homes on Starr Boulevard using $1.3 million in Suffolk County ARPA funds.
“This is what happens when every level of government works together,” said SCWA Chairman Charles Lefkowitz. “When contamination threatens families’ drinking water, we move quickly, we partner, and we deliver solutions that don’t leave homeowners bearing impossible costs.”
SCWA has continued to collaborate with the SCDHS as more areas of Suffolk County are impacted by PFAS contamination in private wells. When these wells are identified, SCWA seeks available federal, state and local grants to offset the significant cost of water main extensions. Extending public water can cost tens or even hundreds of thousands of dollars per home, and individual property owners typically bear those costs. Only through grant funding can projects like South River Road become viable.
There has been growing urgency from Suffolk residents to gain access to high quality public drinking water. In 2024, the U.S. Environmental Protect Agency established a national drinking water standard for some PFAS of 4 parts per trillion (PPT). Although homeowners with private wells are not required to meet this standard, there is growing concern over the health impacts of consuming water with high levels of PFAS.
When the SCDHS tested wells in vicinity of South River Road in 2022, it found concentrations of PFOA and PFOS as high as 184 PPT, alarming residents in the area. In June of 2025, SCWA announced that all water is delivers to its customers is now in compliance with the new standard—six years ahead of the 2031 deadline.
“These projects represent the best of public service,” said SCWA CEO Jeff Szabo. “We are leveraging federal and state funds to protect public health while keeping costs off the backs of Suffolk County homeowners. With Phase 1 complete, we are well on our way to finishing the remaining phases by the end of 2026.”
The South River Road project builds on a growing list of similar efforts where SCWA has brought public water to areas impacted by PFAS contamination, including multiple neighborhoods in Manorville. Additional projects in Westhampton and Medford are scheduled to begin soon using the same funding model.
“When private wells are contaminated, families shouldn’t have to choose between financial hardship and safe drinking water,” said County Executive Ed Romaine. “This project shows what’s possible when Suffolk County and SCWA work hand in hand to protect residents.”
“Brookhaven Town has focused our ARPA allotment to a myriad of meaningful projects, mainly involving public infrastructure. Clean water is one of the most important investments we can make, and we are pleased that this expenditure will bring clean water to our residents”
“For years I’ve worked with local leaders to champion water quality standards and deliver the federal funds needed for safe drinking water for Calverton area families with contaminated wells,” said United States Senator Charles Schumer. “I’ve secured nearly $14 million in federal funding—including aid from the American Rescue Plan and Bipartisan Infrastructure Law—to help community leaders continue their steady stream of improving water quality. I applaud Suffolk County Water Authority for its partnership and continued work to expand access to clean, safe drinking water for these residents and all the residents they serve across Suffolk County.”
Adrienne Esposito, Executive Director of the Citizen’s Campaign for the Environmental added, “I really want to thank all the elected officials here and the Suffolk County Water Authority for understanding this need. Understanding that this is not a partisan issue but rather it's a public health issue. We all have a right to clean water, but we have to work together to obtain clean water.”
With Phase 1 complete and construction of Phase 2 underway, SCWA is now firmly on track to complete all three phases of the South River Road project by the end of 2026—bringing peace of mind and high quality public drinking water to more than 200 Suffolk County families.
About Suffolk County Water Authority:
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.