A fall drought has driven Suffolk County water demand to record-breaking levels, typically seen only during peak summer months, the Suffolk County Water Authority announced last week, reporting that it pumped approximately 7 billion gallons of water in October, about 1.5 billion gallons more than usual for the month, following one of the driest months of September and October on record.
While SCWA’s system is currently meeting demand, the prolonged high-water usage is complicating routine seasonal shutdowns of certain wells, the utility states, adding that these wells are typically taken offline in colder months to prevent freeze-related damage, as they lack winterized structures. If they must remain operational into the winter, this could present infrastructure risks and potential costs for repairs.
“This fall surge in water demand is certainly concerning,” SCWA Chairman Charlie Lefkowitz said. “It isn’t putting immediate strain on the system as a summer drought might, but it does complicate our winter preparations. Demand levels are resembling those seen in late spring and early summer.”
SCWA attributes the higher water usage to increased outdoor irrigation, with customers running sprinklers later into the season to maintain lawns during the dry spell. SCWA has long promoted an odd/even lawn watering schedule as an effective measure for managing demand. Under this schedule, homes with odd-numbered addresses water on odd-numbered days, while even-numbered addresses water on even days.
This conservation measure has successfully reduced strain on SCWA’s systems over the summer and is part of SCWA’s broader strategy to ensure the reliability of Suffolk County’s water infrastructure.
Staff Writer on Nov 13, 2024