The New York State Environmental Facilities Corporation announced that it awarded the Suffolk County Water Authority $4.55 million in grant funding to support three Granular Activated Carbon (GAC) treatment projects designed to remove per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) from drinking water. The funding continues SCWA’s multi-year effort to eliminate PFAS from the public water supply while limiting costs passed on to customers.
The 2026 Water Infrastructure Improvement Act (WIIA) grants support the following projects:
- Hallock Avenue Well Field (Wells No. 2 and 3): $2,100,000
- Liberty Street Well Field (Well No. 3): $1,225,000
- Patchogue-Yaphank Road Well Field (Well No. 1): $1,225,000
SCWA already meets the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s national 4-parts-per-trillion drinking water standard for PFAS ahead of the 2031 regulatory deadline. These new GAC projects move SCWA closer to its goal of treating all water delivered to customers to non-detectable levels.
Since 2019, SCWA has secured more than $116 million in state and federal grant funding to support water quality treatment, infrastructure upgrades and system expansion. This investment keeps customer rates among the lowest in New York while allowing SCWA to move faster than required for emerging contaminant treatment.
“Grant funding is critical to protecting water quality without putting the full cost on our customers,” said SCWA Chairman Charlie Lefkowitz. “These projects allow us to continue installing treatment systems, meet strict PFAS standards ahead of schedule and keep rates affordable. I want to thank the state for its continued investment in drinking water.”
SCWA Chief Executive Officer Jeff Szabo added, “We made a commitment years ago to get ahead of PFAS, not wait for mandates. This funding helps us continue that work and accelerates our ability to remove these compounds from drinking water while maintaining long-term financial stability.”
Granular Activated Carbon removes PFAS as water passes through carbon media before reaching customers. SCWA continues to deploy GAC systems throughout its service territory as part of a system-wide treatment strategy.
The WIIA program provides grants covering a significant portion of eligible project costs, reducing the financial burden on water systems and ratepayers while advancing public health priorities across New York State.
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.