Suffolk County Water Authority urges customers to conserve water, citing 'dangerously low' levels in storage tanks

High rates of water use have led the Suffolk County Water Authority to urge customers to conserve and to observe lawn watering guidelines.

Water levels in storage tanks have been running "dangerously low," especially at peak demand times in the early morning, the water authority wrote in an email to customers on Wednesday. If water demand remains high, water pressure could be reduced for some residential and commercial customers in some areas, the notice continued.

The SCWA said it issued a warning to customers in some areas last month that water levels were running low. Now the water authority has issued a water alert, urging all customers to curb their use of water. It said high water use in Eatons Neck, Kings Park, North Bay Shore, Selden, Montauk and the Town of Southold were "a particular concern." 

"We need our customers to take immediate action to reduce their water use," said Charlie Lefkowitz, chairman of the Suffolk County Water Authority. "Water is a limited resource, especially during peak summer demand, and we need to ensure there’s enough available for critical needs like fire protection."

Specifically, the utility advised people to "eliminate all unnecessary use of water" and to "limit lawn watering." Houses and businesses with even street numbers should water on even-numbered days and odd-numbered houses and businesses should water only on odd-numbered days, the authority said.

Lawn watering is not allowed between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m., when the Environmental Protection Agency says about 30% of water from sprinklers is lost to evaporation.

No other water suppliers on the Island have issued water warnings, as far as Newsday found. The Port Washington Water District relies on its "aggressive water conservation" measures and public education to maintain water levels, according to commissioner Mindy Germain. Residents and businesses are divided into geographic zones, each allowed to water lawns during certain hours.   

And starting this season, the district requires water-saving "smart sprinklers," which don't turn on when the soil is already damp. 

Long Island typically enters a dryer period in midsummer, according to Dominic Ramunni, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service in Islip. "But I wouldn’t call it notably dry," he said.

NWS data for the month of July so far shows accumulated rainfall at the Islip weather station totaling 2.6 inches, slightly above the normal 2.3 inches. At the Bridgehampton station, it was 2.2 inches, above the normal 1.3.

Consumption appears to be the cause of the water shortage in Suffolk County rather than low rainfall. Long Islanders use 70% more water than the national average, according to data from the U.S. Geological Survey. An eight-year study by the USGS released last August found the aquifer under Long Island — its sole source of water for drinking and all other uses — was "under stress" from overpumping. In some areas, overpumping is causing saltwater intrusion into drinking water wells.