Farmingdale thirsts for Suffolk water deal

On tap Monday night at the Farmingdale board of trustees meeting is a proposal that could result in the village crossing county lines for cheaper water.

Mayor George Starkie has for two years been in talks with the Suffolk County Water Authority about supplying Farmingdale's 2,400 homes -- a deal that would make Farmingdale the first Nassau County municipality to contract with the agency.

Starkie said residents in the village's highest-rate tier would save 30 percent on their water bills.

The unusual proposal requires special legislation from Albany. Starkie said he hopes to immediately pursue the enabling legislation.

"This is a game-changer for the village," he said. "There's significant savings."

A resolution to continue the process will be presented to and voted upon Monday by trustees.

Starkie said he had also met with the Bethpage and South Farmingdale water districts, but found the Suffolk agency, which would absorb the village water district, has the lowest rates.

The existing infrastructure is compatible with Suffolk, and a contract -- for either a 30- or 40-year operating agreement -- would also mean $4 million in waterworks upgrades in Farmingdale.

Suffolk County Water Authority chief executive Jeff Szabo said Starkie approached the agency.

"Any agreement would require approval from state and local governments," Szabo said in a statement. "From an operations and water quality perspective, this kind of agreement makes sense."

The village will schedule public hearings for resident input, Starkie said.

The Suffolk agency has in the past two decades taken over nine private water systems.