Riverhead · issues
Civic issues
Topics getting the most attention in Town of Riverhead public meetings, ranked by how frequently they come up.
Calverton water main extension funding
Engineering services and bid notices for water main installations at boundary extensions 95, 96, and 97, Forge Road, and Summerwind are on the September 1 agenda.
Water district rust complaints and flushing program
Rusty, discolored water hit hundreds of Wading River and Calverton customers, ruining some residents' laundry. An engineered overnight flushing starts October 18 to clear iron particles from the mains, and the district is investigating what disturbed the system.
Riverhead Water District emergency maintenance contracts
The water district is replacing aging electrical equipment at Plant No. 7 on Fresh Pond Road, which supplies about 20% of the town's water. Staff did the mechanical and building work in-house, saving ratepayers an estimated $500,000 to $1 million.
SCWA North Fork pipeline / Monroe balancing test
The Suffolk County Water Authority wants to run a 24-inch water main through Riverhead along Route 25 to supply Southold, and claims it's exempt from local zoning. The town held its Monroe balancing test hearing to decide whether the project must comply with Riverhead's site plan, wetland, and special permit rules. Residents overwhelmingly backed the town's fight.
Sewer district premature-connection penalty
The town wants to charge $3,500 to anyone who connects to the sewer district without the required permissions — and the superintendent says three people did it in the last two weeks. It closes a loophole in the February fee resolution.
Sewer district extension to 840 Old Country Road
A public hearing is being called on extending the sewer district to 840 Old Country Road.
Docking restrictions rewrite
Resolution 34, amending Chapter 293 docking rules, was pulled from the packet so attorney amendments can be added; it targets derelict boats left at the riverfront docking facility on the Peconic River.
Electronic permitting for building permits
The town wants to modernize its building department with electronic permitting and digitize decades of paper records — a $1.4 million job. New fees would fund it, but council members want a sliding scale so big developers pay more than homeowners.
Biosolids Reduction Project cost increase
The sewer district's biosolids project cost is going up by about $2.5 million, to a revised maximum of $21.1 million. Superintendent Tim Allen said the figure is still below the last higher bid thanks to grant money. No one spoke at the hearing.
Water and Sewer District Capital Projects and Well No. 2A Bid
The board adopted budget amendments for water and sewer capital projects and awarded the construction bid for a new Water District well, keeping water infrastructure moving.
Indian Island Golf Course Effluent Reuse Agreement
The town wants Suffolk County to chip in on treating and reusing wastewater for the Indian Island golf course, since the county owns the course but the town's currently eating the cost. The county hasn't responded yet, so the deal may get tabled.
Federal Funding for Water District Extensions 96 and 97
The town is applying for up to $4.09 million in congressionally directed spending to build public water district extensions 96 and 97 and buy police equipment.
2026 Water District rate restructure
Riverhead Water District rates are going up: Tier 1 to $2.05/1,000 gallons, Tier 2 to $3.25, service charges up $1, plus a new $100/month penalty for skipping required backflow device inspections. The district lost a $300,000 cell tower lease and wants to wean itself off cell revenue for operations. Rates remain below Suffolk County Water Authority's.
PFAS treatment at Well No. 5-2A rebid
The town rejected the bids it received for PFAS treatment at Well 5-2A and will put the project out to bid again — a delay in getting PFAS 'forever chemical' treatment into the drinking water supply.
Main Street water main break response
Contractors casing the main under Main Street hit a break in the Y branch Tuesday morning; crews stopped the flow in about 45 minutes, bypass-pumped around it, and notified the health department and DEC. River samples come back in 3-4 days.
Bandera Pools drainage design
Board member Joe Baier couldn't tell from the plans where stormwater collected by the leaching system actually exits, and pushed to have the town engineer confirm the design before final approval. The board amended its approval to require that confirmation.