The Suffolk County Water Authority is nearing the completion of the longest 24-inch diameter water main project in its history, a project that will bolster the water supply available to the Westhampton area and bring high quality water straight from the heart of the Central Pine Barrens.
The project will connect the water system in the Northampton/Riverside/Flanders area to the system in the Westhampton area via a new 14,000-foot water main currently being installed on Speonk Riverhead Road. When it goes into service, which is expected to occur in July, the new pipe will connect water main on County Road 51 in Northampton to water main on Old Country Road in Speonk with the capacity to transport as much as two million gallons per day.
In addition to bringing to the Westhampton area water from the core of the Central Pine Barrens, the project will a provide a tremendous supply boost that will help alleviate supply concerns during the early morning hours of hot summer days, when many residents tend to activate automated lawn watering systems. Last year, during a particularly dry stretch, SCWA requested that area residents voluntarily reduce their water use to help alleviate stress on local water infrastructure.
The interconnection will also benefit residents of Northampton, Riverside and Flanders, providing increased available supply in those communities as well.
(From left to right) SCWA Distribution Engineer Daniel Penza, SCWA Chairman Patrick Halpin, Suffolk County Legislator Bridget Fleming, New York State Senator Ken LaValle, and Southampton Town Supervisor Jay Schneiderman review the plans for the Authority's new pipline along Speonk-Riverhead road, which will benefit residents of Speonk, Northampton, Riverside and Flanders.
On Tuesday, SCWA Chairman Patrick Halpin joined State Senator Kenneth LaValle, Assemblyman Fred Thiele Jr., County Legislator Bridget Fleming and Town of Southampton Supervisor Jay Schneiderman at the project site to review progress.
"This project exemplifies our mission at the Suffolk County Water Authority—to ensure that an ample supply of the highest quality water is always available to our customers," Halpin said.
"Ensuring that the East End has a reliable and safe source of drinking water is essential to the region’s future, and this project will go a long way toward furthering those important goals," Thiele said.
"This protected Pine Barrens area provides a source of high purity drinking water," said Southampton Supervisor Jay Schneiderman. "I commend the Suffolk County Water Authority for literally going to great lengths to provide high quality water to the public at a time when many are concerned about emerging contaminates in drinking water."
"Water is our most valuable resource and we appreciate the talents, forethought, and infrastructure of the SCWA in providing high quality water to our area," Fleming said.
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.