Suffolk County drops water usage restrictions as conditions improve

The Suffolk County Water Authority on Thursday rescinded a Stage 1 Water Emergency, declared over the summer for much of the county as the region experienced a severe drought. 

Amid a period of consistent rain, with more expected this weekend, as well as cooler temperatures blanketing the island, officials said less stress has been placed on the county's water infrastructure in the early morning peak hours.

The end of the water emergency means that residents can return to watering their lawns from midnight to 7 a.m., when irrigation usage is the highest. 

“Due to improving weather conditions and the resulting lower overall water demand during the early morning hours, the Stage 1 Water Emergency declared by the Suffolk County Water Authority has been rescinded, effective immediately,” SCWA Chief Executive Officer Jeffrey Szabo wrote in a message to their 1.2 million customers. “To those of you who responded to the call for conservation, thank you. Each and every one of us can make a difference. Your cooperation will help to ensure there is sufficient water supply for firefighting and other emergency situations.”

The Water Authority declared the Water Emergency for the towns of East Hampton, Shelter Island, Southampton and Southold on Aug. 2 and been urging customers to stop all lawn watering from midnight to 7 a.m. and to reduce shower times to ensure there is sufficient water for firefighting and other emergency purposes.

During the last week of August, the Suffolk County Water Authority system pumpage averaged 500,000 gallons per minute between 5 a.m. and 6 a.m. During this past week, that figure dropped to a more manageable 360,000 gallons per minute, officials said.

While Suffolk has enough water in its aquifer, the pumping system to get water from wells and towers to homes and businesses — and fire hydrants — was being pushed to its limits as people tried to keep their lawns green, officials said at the time.

While the water emergency has been rescinded, all of Long Island remains in a state of severe or moderate drought, according to federal monitors.

Water Authority officials said residents must continue to be responsive to future conservation efforts.

“What happened this summer should be a wake-up call for Suffolk residents to reduce water use in their daily lives,” said Suffolk County Water Authority Chairman Patrick Halpin. “This was a particularly bad summer, but peak hours have been a problem for years. We appreciate those who listened, but the truth is, we did not get enough cooperation from our customers. We were, frankly, lucky that we didn’t have a major fire during a time in which water pressure was dangerously low.”

The Water Authority, Halpin said, is in the process of developing a comprehensive and enforceable water conservation plan that will serve as a blueprint for the long-term sustainability of the sole source aquifer that provides 100% of the region's drinking water.

Nassau County or its local water districts did not impose any irrigation restrictions during the summer.

The county's sprinkler ordinance prohibits the irrigation of residential and commercial properties between the hours of 10 a.m. and 4 p.m. while following an odd/even split for which days they can water their lawns. Enforcement of the ordinance, officials said, is conducted by local police although most residents who violate receive only a warning.

By Robert Brodsky

robert.brodsky@newsday.com@BrodskyRobert

Robert Brodsky is a breaking news reporter who has worked at Newsday since 2011. He is a Queens College and American University alum.