A water main break in Coram left a homeowner with a $25,000 repair bill after he was denied reimbursement for repairs.

The main break on Nov. 4 flooded out Jack Carone's home on Goodwin Lane and destroyed his driveway. He says a representative from the Suffolk County Water Authority was unable to shut off the main - because the valve had been paved over.

So Carone filed a claim against the Suffolk County Water Authority to recoup money spent on repairs, but it was denied. A third-party arbitrator said the SCWA was not liable for the damage.

"The insurance company says, 'No, not us,'" Carone says. "The water authority says, 'No, not us.'" 

"Water ended up there, and there's damage," counters his attorney, Gregory P. Haegele. "He pays [insurance] premiums, and he pays his water bill."

The arbitrator said the Water Authority was not performing work in the area that would have caused the break. They also said the utility was not negligent because it had no prior notice of a defective condition that led to the main break.

Carone and his attorney say if they are not able to get satisfaction from the Suffolk County Water Authority, their next step is to sue the Town of Brookhaven, which they blame for paving over the water shutoff valve.

The Water Authority wouldn't comment on the case. It says past court decisions have determined that water suppliers are not insurers of their water systems and cannot be held liable unless it's shown damage was caused by negligence.