SCWA Passes Operating, Capital Budgets

The Suffolk County Water Authority (SCWA) passed its Operating and Capital budgets for the 2011 fiscal year yesterday. The conservative spending plan that incorporates a number of cost savings initiatives balanced by investment in important infrastructure improvements was approved unanimously for a budget that takes affect June 1, 2010, according to a statement by the SCWA.

"Our top priority is to guarantee that we provide customers with safe, secure and pure water," said Suffolk County Water Authority Chairman Michael LoGrande in the statement. "In order to ensure the water system continues to function efficiently, this budget focuses increased funding on improving that system."

The Water Authority re-appropriated funding in this fiscal year for water main replacement throughout the system. The budget calls for spending $17 million for replacement of water main and another $2 million for distribution system improvements.

"While creating this budget, we set clear priorities and allotted funds for projects consistent with ongoing initiatives," said Special Projects Coordinator Jeffrey Szabo in a statement. "By being conservative and focusing on priority projects, we were able to reduce the current $73 million Capital Budget by almost $700,000. With this budget, we are confident that the Authority will continue our superior service and provide customers with the safest water in the most cost-effective manner."

One area where a significant savings in the Operating Budget is being realized is from the Energy Optimization Program. The Water Authority saved $1 million in the four-month period from June-September 2009 and looks to repeat that again this summer. By reducing energy pumping during LIPA's "Peak" period and relying on water stored in elevated tanks, the SCWA has been able to achieve considerable savings.