Suffolk Water Authority Gets $4.55M for PFAS Removal
New York state grants fund three carbon treatment projects to remove PFAS from drinking water in Suffolk County.
Updated on Nov. 1, 2026 in Utilities
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The New York State Environmental Facilities Corporation awarded the Suffolk County Water Authority $4.55 million in grant funding. The money will support three Granular Activated Carbon treatment projects designed to remove per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances from drinking water.
Why it matters
The funding continues the authority's multi-year effort to eliminate PFAS from the public water supply while limiting costs passed on to customers. It matters for the roughly 1.2 million residents the authority serves across Suffolk County and reflects statewide efforts to meet federal PFAS standards.
The $4.55 million award is split across three well fields, with the largest share, $2.1 million, going to Hallock Avenue. The total project cost and completion schedule for each site were not specified.
The players
Suffolk County Water Authority
A public utility that supplies drinking water to approximately 1.2 million residents across Suffolk County on Long Island, New York.
New York State Environmental Facilities Corporation
A New York State public benefit corporation that finances water and wastewater infrastructure projects and administers state infrastructure grants.
The details
The authority will install Granular Activated Carbon systems that filter PFAS as water passes through carbon media before reaching customers. The authority says it already meets the EPA's 4 parts-per-trillion PFAS drinking water standard and aims to treat all delivered water to non-detectable PFAS levels.
Timeline
2019: The authority began securing state and federal water grant funding.
2026: Water Infrastructure Improvement Act grants were awarded to the authority.
2031: The EPA PFAS regulatory deadline, which the authority already exceeds.
Industry Context
The grant is awarded under the 2026 Water Infrastructure Improvement Act, which funds PFAS treatment for local utilities. The authority's PFAS work has drawn more than $116 million in grant funding since 2019, and its treatment efforts already meet the EPA's 4 parts-per-trillion standard set for 2031 compliance.
Residents served by the Suffolk County Water Authority will see PFAS filtered from their tap water as the three carbon treatment systems come online. The authority's approach aims to limit costs passed on to customers by relying on state and federal grants.
The takeaway
Public water systems can reduce PFAS exposure through grant-funded carbon filtration well before federal deadlines arrive. Residents interested in their own water quality can check the annual consumer confidence report published by their utility.
Further reading
For more on local infrastructure, see Utilities coverage across New York.
Source note: This article includes information reported by TBR News Media.
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