Suffolk County commits $1.5 million to Manorville extension project, closing funding gap

Suffolk County will contribute $1.5 million to close a funding gap in order to connect homes in the southwest corner of Riverhead Town to public water.

The money, received by the county from the 2021 federal American Rescue Plan Act, will cover a more than $600,000 funding shortfall for the construction of the water mains in the area, as well as the cost of the private service line for each of the 64 homes in the extension area, officials said at a press conference today.

Clean water advocates and residents of the area, who for the last four years have been lobbying for public water extensions to the homes — which are serviced by private wells, some contaminated by toxic chemicals — gathered with government officials in the driveway of Old River Road resident Kelly McClinchy for a press conference to celebrate the occasion.

“Everybody played a role in this. Everybody has a level of importance here,” McClinchy said. “The residents didn’t do this by themselves. The officials didn’t do this by themselves. There are so many people that played into this and every single person that helped out or did something has a talent.”

Government officials commended McClinchy’s leadership and the advocacy of her neighbors. The coverage of the private service line by the county is an even bigger win for the Manorville residents, who have long maintained they should not bear any cost of the water hookups. 

“This community got up, showed up and spoke up for four years collectively,“ Citizens Campaign for the Environment Executive Director Adrienne Esposito said.

“Everyone stuck together, stayed together, collaborated together and fought together,” Esposito said.

Officials also celebrated the efforts of Esposito, a clean water advocate who was often right next to the Manorville residents during public meetings urging government officials to bring water to the area.

“It’s a New York state constitutional right to have clean air, clean water and a healthful environment,” Assembly Member Jodi Giglio said. “And we appreciate our environmental advocates who are pushing for that every day, and for the residents that are longing for somebody to pay attention to them.”

Government officials said water quality is a “nonpartisan” issue that is essential to maintain in Suffolk County, and funding the project was an example of the collaboration of all levels of government. 

“Because of this team, because of all the efforts here, we can say that this project has all the funding that it needs,” County Executive Steve Bellone said. “We are pledging $1.5 million that will guarantee that residents now will not be left holding the bag, they will not have to be paying out of pocket for costs and pollution that they did not cause.”

In the absence of a responsible party for the pollution in the area, the Town of Riverhead has pursued grants for water infrastructure extension projects for the past few years and was able to obtain roughly $7.4 million from state and federal entities. After public pressure, the town authorized an agreement last fall with the Suffolk County Water Authority — which itself is constructing an extension on the Brookhaven side of the Manorville hamlet — to construct the extension, rather than expanding the Riverhead Water District’s boundaries to include Manorville.

The homes being connected are located in an area health authorities are surveying for toxic chemicals. Some of the private wells were found to be contaminated by perfluorinated alkylated substances, known as PFAS, which environmental and health agencies say cause cancers and other adverse health effects. 

Residents and some government officials have pointed to Northrop Grumman’s activities at the former U.S. Navy property in Calverton as the cause of groundwater pollution south and southeast of the former Navy site. However, a direct link between Grumman’s activities and the pollution in Manorville has not been established and the Navy, despite public pressure from politicians, including Senator Chuck Schumer and former Rep. Lee Zeldin, has denied responsibility for the water pollution problems.

Construction on the $10.85 million project for Riverhead Town residents could begin by the end of this year, Suffolk County Water Authority officials said during a meeting last month. 

MORE COVERAGE: Construction on Manorville public water extension in Riverhead Town could begin by year’s end, though funding shortfall remains

The Suffolk County Water Authority will take on the homes within the Riverhead side of Manorville as customers. Under a new policy passed by the public authority last month, the homes in Riverhead will get 75 feet of water main at no cost to the property owner for being new customers. The passage of the new policy slashed the previous funding shortfall for the water main extensions from $2.8 million to $648,400, according to the water authority’s estimates.

“This is a great day in Manorville,” Schumer said in a statement read by Supervisor Yvette Aguiar. “For years I have worked with residents, advocates, and Riverhead Town to bring federal funding for safe drinking water to Manorville and Calverton families with contaminated water wells, providing $13.5 million in federal funds directly through the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law.“

“Thanks to County Executive Bellone, the final needed funding is on its way from the County Water Infrastructure Fund,” Schumer added. “I applaud the work [of] Riverhead Supervisor Yvette Aguiar, the Suffolk County Water Authority, New York State and State Senator Palumbo for their work alongside mine to secure safe water to these residents.”