From left to right; CEO Jeff Szabo, Senator Mario Mattera, Pipeline Inspector Thomas Gilson and Suffolk Alliance of Chambers Co-Chair Robert Fonti tour Northport water main replacement.
The Suffolk County Water Authority replaced approximately 3,900 feet of aging water main along Soundview Terrace, Waterview Street and surrounding streets in Northport. SCWA CEO Jeff Szabo and NY State Senator Mario Mattera visited the construction site to see the work firsthand.
The project involved replacing old cast iron water main with new ductile iron pipe, helping improve the reliability of the water distribution system and providing more dependable service to customers in the area.
Cast iron is an older material used for water main that becomes brittle and loses structural integrity over time, making it susceptible to breaks caused by soil shifts and temperature fluctuations. The new pipe installed by SCWA is made with ductile iron. Ductile iron possesses higher tensile strength and flexes under environmental stress without fracturing, which reduces the frequency of pipe failures and stabilizes water distribution.
“As a former member of the Suffolk County Water Authority Board, I know firsthand how important these investments are to the families and businesses who depend on safe, reliable drinking water every day. Thank you to CEO Jeff Szabo and the SCWA board for their dedication to protecting our water for our residents and for all their efforts. I also want to recognize the hardworking men and women of Operating Engineers Local 138 and Laborers Local 1298, along with the team at Bancker Construction, whose skill, dedication and professionalism make projects like this possible. These are the hardworking men and women who get up every day, put on their work boots and do the difficult work that keeps our communities running,” stated Senator Mario R. Mattera.
“Replacing aging water mains is an important part of our ongoing effort to maintain and modernize our infrastructure,” said SCWA CEO Jeff Szabo. “Projects like this help ensure we can continue providing reliable, high-quality drinking water to the communities we serve.”
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.