Suffolk County Water Authority asks residents to reduce water usage due to lack of rain
The Suffolk County Water Authority says residents should follow the odd/even water schedule.
Jul 13, 2023, 5:41 PM
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The Suffolk County Water Authority is urging residents to reduce water usage due to the recent lack of rainfall in the area.
SCWA Deputy CEO for Operation Joseph Pokorney says when demand outweighs supply, the tank levels fall and then the pressures in the system go down.
Residents are being asked to adopt water conservation measures to ensure the water infrastructure isn't overburdened and the aquifer is protected. To do that, the Suffolk County Water Authority says residents should follow the odd/even water schedule.
The schedule would mean that homeowners with even house numbers should only water their lawns on even days and odd house numbers water on odd days.
Low water pressure can have a negative impact on knocking out fires when firefighters are unable to get enough water from hydrants to put out fires.
"If we have a fire during those peak times when people are pulling from the water system, that could definitely impact our safety and our ability to fight these fires," says Bay Shore Fire Department Assistant Chief John Ippolito Jr.
The water authority says swapping a standard irrigation time for a smart controller can save up to 30% on summertime water usage.
Watering lawns at night or very early also prevents waste.
