Riverhead WD

Greetings Riverhead Water District Residents: We're pleased to present the Riverhead Water District's 2017 Consumer Confidence Report/Annual Water Supply Statement. As highlighted in this report, the Riverhead Water District continues providing residents with reliable, high-quality water that meets all domestic needs. Our water undergoes rigorous testing to ensure compliance with all water standards.

As our Town expands, so does our Water District. To address growing water demands, we're investigating additional source and storage locations with plans to implement these new facilities in the coming year. Meanwhile, we encourage conservation to minimize expenses related to developing new facilities primarily needed during peak summer periods.

Our Water District staff works diligently to ensure every resident has clean water whenever they turn on their tap. Additional information about the Water District and our supply is available on our Town website, www.townofriverheadny.gov.

The District's water source comes from seventeen (17) active wells throughout the town, drawing from the Magothy and Glacial aquifers beneath Long Island. Generally, the aquifer quality ranges from good to excellent, though some localized contamination exists. In 2017, the Riverhead Water District served approximately 35,000 people, extracting 2.38 billion gallons from the aquifer, with about 93.5% directly billed to district residents.

For 2018, the District implemented a unit price billing schedule: customers with 3/4 inch service pay $10.90 for the first 5,000 gallons quarterly plus $1.73 per additional 1,000 gallons. For 1-inch service, the rate is $19.90 quarterly for the first 9,000 gallons plus $1.73 per additional 1,000 gallons. For other rates and services, please visit the Town's website.

The Riverhead Water District treats all wells to enhance water quality before distribution. We adjust pH upward using lime to reduce corrosion between water and infrastructure. We also add calcium hypochlorite to prevent bacterial growth and iron sequestering agents to control corrosion and maintain soluble iron, minimizing laundry and plumbing fixture stains.

The District operates an ion exchange treatment system at Plant No. 16 to remove perchlorate, a man-made substance typically associated with fertilizer production. Though the USEPA hasn't established a drinking water standard for perchlorate, the NYS Department of Health enacted an action level of 18 ug/l. While perchlorate levels at Plant No. 16 never exceeded this threshold, we continue treatment as a precautionary measure. Other sources either aren't affected or contain minimal perchlorate levels.

Are there regions experiencing water shortages in America? What solutions are being implemented?

Several coastal areas in California face acute freshwater shortages. To address these challenges, multiple solutions have been deployed. Desalination technology removes salt content from seawater to create potable water. Another approach involves developing underground pipeline networks to transport water from resource-rich communities to arid regions. Engineers continuously research sustainable and reliable methods to deliver water to communities nationwide.

How are water rates determined?

Public water utilities typically establish their own rates without requiring state public utility commission approval. However, private-sector providers must submit applications to their state's Public Utilities Commission when seeking rate increases. In exchange for water service provision, private companies are entitled to earn reasonable returns on prudently invested capital. Companies aren't guaranteed specific returns—profitability depends on operational efficiency. When evaluating rate increase requests, regulators assess whether capital investments for system construction and maintenance are reasonable and if operations are managed prudently.

How can residents prepare for drought conditions?

Due to increasingly dry, warm weather patterns and ongoing water resource challenges, many regions experience shortages. When conservation becomes mandatory, local authorities provide specific guidance on restrictions. Visit our Wise Water Use section for conservation strategies.

How does water reach household taps?

The water infrastructure system operates through three main components: pumping stations, treatment facilities, and distribution networks. After treatment, water travels through extensive pipe networks to homes and businesses.

• Pumping stations extract raw (untreated) water from sources like aquifers or rivers using large pumps, pipes, and power supplies.
• Treatment facilities process raw water to meet USEPA purity and quality standards.
• Distribution systems comprise pipe networks spanning fields, mountains, and highways to deliver water to homes, businesses, and fire hydrants.

The U.S. water pipe network extends over 700,000 miles—more than triple the National Highway System's length. American Water maintains 48,000 miles of pipe infrastructure.

How is municipal water treated?

After extraction from sources (underground aquifers, rivers, reservoirs, lakes), water enters treatment facilities where modern systems combine chemicals and filtration to ensure quality before distribution. Engineers design these facilities to address specific community needs. As demands increase, additional resources and investments become necessary to maintain compliance with established standards. The USEPA and many state agencies set water quality requirements.

How can residents verify water safety?

The Safe Drinking Water Act (1974) authorized the USEPA to establish standards for community water systems serving more than 25 people. The USEPA develops health-based standards to protect against both natural and man-made contaminants. Municipal utilities conduct numerous daily tests to ensure quality water delivery.