Press Releases

Contact: Public Relations Department
Suffolk County Water Authority
PO Box 37
Oakdale NY 11769
(631) 563-0296

June 30, 2004
STRAIGHT “A” REPORT CARD FOR SCWA

Even the Suffolk County Water Authority gets a report card and once again it’s straight “A’s”. SCWA Chairman Michael LoGrande today announced that the Authority’s laboratory once again obtained two perfect scores on its most recent New York State Proficiency test.

Twice a year, the Authority’s laboratory must prove to the New York State Department of Health that it is capable of ensuring the quality of the water the Authority delivers to almost 1.2 million people every day by passing a tough proficiency test. In this test, the Authority’s laboratory staff must correctly identify and measure a series of chemical compounds, at levels as low as a part per billion, in test samples provided by the Department of Health. The lab’s staff must also identify coliform bacteria, E. coli, and heterotrophic bacteria in the second phase of this test. The most recent test results show that the lab once again has the distinction of having done every test accurately and properly.

“This is one very dedicated and professional staff whose only job is to ensure the safety and purity of the water we deliver to our customers,” said Chairman LoGrande. Operating 24/7, the lab’s scientists look for over 260 chemical constituents, almost twice the number required by federal or state regulation. New York State has among the toughest water quality regulations in the nation.

“Not only is our laboratory state certified, but it also has the distinction of being federally certified through the National Environmental Laboratory Accreditation Program,” said Lab Director Karen Randazzo. The SCWA laboratory has developed several testing methodologies that have been federally approved and adopted nationally, has provided expert testimony on the gasoline additive MTBE to a subcommittee of the US House of Representatives, and routinely participates in cutting-edge testing and peer review with various federal agencies.

The Suffolk County Water Authority is an independent public benefit corporation operating by virtue of the Public Authorities Law of the State of New York. Serving about 88% of Suffolk’s residents, it operates without taxing power on a not-for-profit basis.