As the winter season ends the Suffolk County Water Authority reported that its repair crews worked around the clock to address 504 main water breaks from December through February—the highest number through that period in at least a decade. Across Suffolk County, crews braved sub-zero temperatures and ice to maintain reliable service to SCWA’s 1.2 million customers.

The frequency of breaks intensified alongside the dropping temperatures. The season was marked by a particularly high volume of main breaks in February 2026, which saw 245 main breaks. In January alone, SCWA completed 121 repairs, including a peak of 44 breaks handled during the second week of that month. This high volume of activity was a direct result of deep freezes, where the frost line penetrated deep into the ground, causing the soil to shift and putting immense thermal stress on older cast iron pipes.

"The work our crews performed was truly heroic," said SCWA Chairman Charlie Lefkowitz. "Maintaining our distribution system in harsh weather conditions wasn't just part of the job; it was a service to the community that required incredible physical stamina and sacrifice.”

To mitigate the impact of extreme weather, SCWA continued its aggressive infrastructure renewal program, replacing approximately 20 miles of aging water main. SCWA utilized new ductile iron pipe, a modern material far less prone to the brittle fractures common in older infrastructure during winter months. By targeting areas with a high reoccurrence of breaks, SCWA worked to modernize the system and improve long-term reliability.

"Our employees were out there in the most difficult conditions imaginable because they knew the Suffolk County depended on them," said SCWA Chief Executive Officer Jeff Szabo. "We made a commitment to provide high-quality water and exceptional service, and that commitment was most visible during these winter emergencies. I want to thank our dedicated staff for their continued perseverance and for everything they did to keep Suffolk County running through the winter."

To address the increased rate of main breaks and service disruptions, the SCWA Customer Contact Center was open for additional hours in the morning for the duration of the various cold spells Suffolk County experienced.

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.