The Suffolk County Water Authority and the Village of Saltaire have announced a 40-year agreement for SCWA to operate the Saltaire public water system on Fire Island. Through this agreement, SCWA will manage 456 service connections, including 26 village-owned connections and assume maintenance of 62 fire hydrants throughout the community.
As part of the operational transition, SCWA will install water meters on all Saltaire service connections. To improve water reliability across the area, SCWA will open normally closed valves to connect the Saltaire system with two neighboring SCWA-operated systems. This will allow the infrastructure to function as a single, integrated system that provides immediate operational backup.
“This agreement is a practical step forward for both Saltaire and SCWA,” said SCWA Chairman Charlie Lefkowitz. “By integrating Saltaire into our existing Fire Island infrastructure, we are building a more resilient water system for the barrier island. We look forward to providing Saltaire residents with the reliable service and high-quality water they expect.”
“Operating a public water system requires constant monitoring and dedicated infrastructure,” said SCWA CEO Jeff Szabo. “SCWA has the personnel, technology and experience to manage this system effectively. Residents will now have access to our 24/7 emergency response team and the benefit of a fully interconnected water distribution network.”
This agreement expands the operational footprint of SCWA on Fire Island and the surrounding barrier islands, building on recent management agreements in the Oak Beach and West Gilgo communities.
“For over a century, the Village of Saltaire has prided itself on delivering quality water service to its residents.,” said Saltaire Village Mayor Hugh O'Brien. “Today we look forward to our new partnership with Suffolk County Water Authority, ensuring that in the years to come our community will enjoy and benefit from SCWA's expertise and traditional standards of excellence.”
The agreement will go into effect on June 1st, when residents will be converted to SCWA customers.
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.