Suffolk Water Authority to replace water main in Head of the Harbor after concerns over water quality

The Suffolk County Water Authority is replacing aging water main pipes in the Village of Head of the Harbor in response to concerns from residents about water quality, officials said.

The water authority has been working to replace roughly 2,800 feet of water main pipes with new ones made of ductile iron. The main is under Moriches Road, Fifty Acre Road, Cordwood Path and surrounding streets, according to the water authority.

The new water main will be larger and help improve water quality and flow in the community, the water authority said.

The water authority will spend about $1.2 million on the new main and other related repairs, including paving, installation work and materials, said Daniel Dubois, a spokesman for the water authority. The work is expected to wrap up later this month.

The upgrades will “improve distribution of water, quality and fire flow in the area,” according to a water authority memo published on the Town of Smithtown's website.

The existing water main is currently 8 inches in diameter, while the new one will be 12 inches, Dubois said. The main is too narrow and produces a more restricted water flow, which can cause water to stagnate and stay in the pipes longer, Dubois said. A larger main will generate water flow “that is more appropriate to the community,” Dubois said.

The work is part of ongoing efforts to modernize the authority's water mains. The Suffolk County Water Authority maintains about 6,000 miles of water mains throughout Suffolk. The water authority replaces about 20 to 30 miles of water main annually, Dubois said.

Dan Falasco, Head of the Harbor’s village engineer, said the village is working with the authority to repave the roads.

“Our top priority is reliably providing high quality water to our customers,” Jeff Szabo, CEO of the Suffolk County Water Authority, said in a statement. “Investments like this not only address current concerns but position us to serve our customers well into the future.”

Head of the Harbor Mayor Michael Utevsky said in a statement the result of the water main project will be “a great improvement for the community.”

“I am grateful that the Suffolk County Water Authority continues to make smart investments into Head of the Harbor,” Utevsky said. “When this project is complete, our residents will enjoy enhanced water quality and reliability.”