Suffolk County orders odd-even watering and warns East Hampton residents of fire-safety risk

Suffolk County authorities told East Hampton residents to cut outdoor water use immediately after the county imposed an odd/even watering schedule and banned lawn watering from 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. daily.

The Suffolk County Water Authority said two wells serving the South Fork were taken offline after water testing detected concerning chemicals, removing roughly 8% of local supply capacity. "We are dealing with a double-edged sword right now, unprecedented early season demand, and a temporarily restricted supply on the South Fork," Water Authority Chairman Charlie Lecoit said in a statement. "With crucial wells restricted or offline, we cannot afford any wasted water. If residents don't scale back immediately, we risk severe pressure drops that put localized fire protection at risk."

The restrictions apply countywide; officials emphasized the measures are intended to preserve system pressure and fire flows. The odd/even system allows outdoor taps at addresses with odd numbers on odd-numbered days and even numbers on even-numbered days. Officials also urged residents to avoid nonessential outdoor water use and to check for leaks.

The authority did not announce a timetable to return the offline wells to service; testing and remediation were described as ongoing. The broadcast cited the authority’s estimate that the two wells removed about 8% of capacity for the affected area but gave no timetable for restoration. Local fire and public-safety agencies were not quoted as changing operational plans in the segment.

Officials urged residents to follow the restrictions immediately; further public announcements were described as likely if supplies fail to recover or demand continues to rise.