SCWA Replaces Aging Centereach Water Main

The Suffolk County Water Authority has replaced approximately 3,200 feet of aging cast iron water main in Centereach following numerous breaks that affected the area.

The project replaced older water main along 43rd Street and Morning Drive with ductile iron pipe, which officials said will provide a more reliable water system for residents and reduce the likelihood of future breaks.

“Replacing aging infrastructure is an important part of our ongoing efforts to provide customers with a reliable water supply,” said SCWA Director of Construction/Maintenance Brendan Warner. “Given the number of main breaks in this area, replacing this aging cast iron main with ductile iron was the right investment to improve reliability for customers.”

Suffolk County Legislator Leslie Kennedy and Suffolk County Comptroller John M. Kennedy Jr. toured the project site with Warner to view the improvements firsthand.

“Reliable water infrastructure is essential to the health, safety and quality of life of our residents,” Leslie Kennedy said. “I was pleased to see the Suffolk County Water Authority addressing the aging infrastructure in Centereach and making these important improvements for our community.”

According to SCWA, cast iron is an older material that can become brittle and lose structural integrity over time. That can leave water mains more susceptible to breaks caused by factors including shifting soil and temperature fluctuations.

The replacement ductile iron pipe has greater tensile strength and can flex under environmental stress without fracturing, helping reduce the frequency of pipe failures and improve the stability of water distribution.

The Centereach work was part of SCWA’s ongoing effort to replace aging water mains throughout Suffolk County and improve the reliability of its distribution system.

SCWA is an independent public-benefit corporation that operates on a not-for-profit basis without taxing power. The authority provides water service to approximately 1.2 million Suffolk County residents.