Attention Homeowners
For questions regarding billing please email forgesewers@suffolkcountyny.gov
Access Agreements:
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As of January 2024, access agreements have been mailed to all property owners in the Forge River Watershed Sewer Project. These documents will give the County permission to access your property to install and maintain the equipment for the sewer system at NO COST to you. If you have not received a packet, please contact Gina Carson at (631) 853-5927.
If the access agreement is not signed prior to the beginning of construction of the GPU contracts or you have decided to opt out, you may be required to pay for the connection yourself once the project is completed. The cost of work for the installation of the GPU and abandonment of your existing cesspool/septic system is currently estimated at $20,000.
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Service Bill:
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There will be no cost to residential property owners for their connection to the new sewer system infrastructure. The cost to maintain, repair, replace and operate the GPU, will be paid by the Forge River Sewer District (the “Sewer District”). Beginning in early 2025, property owners in the Sewer District, will receive a quarterly sewer service bill. The bill will be comprised of two parts:
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Debt Service Charge - Paid by all Sewer District property owners for project design costs not financed by grants.
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User Fee - Added to your quarterly bill after your sewer connection is made and includes all costs to operate and maintain the Forge River Sewer District.​
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Depending on the location of your property, you may begin to receive quarterly bills for the debt service charge prior to connection of your property. The debt service charge is required to be paid by ALL properties in the Sewer District, even if the property owner chooses not to connect.
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The charts below indicate the maximum cost for each part, for the first year of billing, based on residential property type. The charges are provided to show you what the first year cost will be on a quarterly and an annual basis:
PROJECT CONSTRUCTION MAP
To check if your property is located within the sewer district boundary, enter your address in the box and search
Project News
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The low pressure sewer contracts (Contract 2 LPS North, Contract 3 LPS East and Contract 4 LPS South) are substantially complete. These included the installation of new low pressure sewer (LPS) pipe in the roadways and the installation of a sewer valve box within the road right-of-way at each individual property.
In the upcoming months, the grinder pump unit (GPU) contracts (Contract 5 GPU, Contract 6 GPU, Contract 7 GPU, Contract 8 GPU and Contract 9 GPU) will begin construction to connect the GPU to the sewer valve box installed under the LPS Contracts. It is important that property owners sign and return their access agreements to the County as soon as possible.
The Advanced Wastewater Treatment Facility (Contract 1 AWTF) construction has been progressing since Winter 2022 and is anticipated to be completed by the end of 2024.
Project Construction Schedule
Area | Description | Contractor | Start | Finish |
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Contract 1 AWTF | Advanced Wastewater Treatment Facility (AWTF) | Posillico-Bove | Winter 2022 | Winter 2024 |
Contract 2 LPS North | Installation of Low Pressure Sewers (LPS) in the Streets | Posillico-Bove | Winter 2022 | Spring 2024 |
Contract 3 LPS East | Installation of Low Pressure Sewers (LPS) in the Streets | Peter Scalamandre & Sons | Winter 2022 | Spring 2024 |
Contract 4 LPS South | Installation of Low Pressure Sewers (LPS) in the Streets | Posillico-Bove | Summer 2022 | Summer 2024 |
Contract 5 GPU | Installation of Grinder Pump Units (GPU) on Private Property and Removal of Septic Systems | Posillico-Bove | Spring 2025 | Fall 2025 |
Contract 6 GPU | Installation of Grinder Pump Units (GPU) on Private Property and Removal of Septic Systems | Posillico-Bove | Fall 2024 | Summer 2026 |
Contract 7 GPU | Installation of Grinder Pump Units (GPU) on Private Property and Removal of Septic Systems | Posillico-Bove | Summer 2024 | Spring 2026 |
Contract 8 GPU | Installation of Grinder Pump Units (GPU) on Private Property and Removal of Septic Systems | Grace Industries | Spring 2024 | Spring 2026 |
Contract 9 GPU | Installation of Grinder Pump Units (GPU) on Private Property and Removal of Septic Systems | Grace Industries | Fall 2024 | Fall 2026 |
Anticipated Schedule
Anticipated start dates and duration of construction in a specific area are provided in the table. Note the start and finish dates could change. Also provided are the names of the Contractors who will be performing the work in each area.
Construction Overview
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The project will begin with the construction of the Advanced Wastewater Treatment Facility (AWTF) (Contract 1) and the installation of the low-pressure sewer (LPS) pipe in the roadways and the installation of a valve box within the road right-of-way at each individual property (Contracts 2-4). Residents should be aware that while there will be temporary disturbances associated with this work, restrictions have been placed on the contractor to minimize disruptions to the greatest extent possible.
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Once the AWTF and LPS pipe construction are complete (Contracts 1-4), installation of the individual sewer connections to each private property will begin (Contracts 5-9). This work will include the installation of a grinder pump unit (GPU), a gravity sewer pipe connecting your house’s waste line to the GPU, and an electrical control panel exterior to your home. The GPU will be connected to the valve box, which was previously installed. To perform these installations, the contractor will need to access your property. The County will be sending a documentation packet for your review and signature prior to commencing construction on your property. Property owners who do not complete and return the requisite paperwork to the County will be responsible to connect their properties to the sewer system at their own cost.
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Environmental Impact
The Problem
The Solution
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Decades of nitrogen pollution from septic systems, cesspools, agricultural uses and runoff have degraded surface and ground waters.
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Poor water quality hurts our coastal resiliency, environment, economy, land values, tourism industry and recreation. ​​
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Long Island’s tidal wetlands play a critical role in protecting against storm damage. Nitrogen pollution is the leading cause of wetland, sea grass and salt-marsh loss. ​
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Most of the nitrogen pollution in the Great South Bay comes from unsewered homes of which Suffolk has 360,000, more than the entire state of New Jersey.
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Constructing a sewer system in the Mastic-Shirley area is a major step toward cleaning up our rivers, bays and underground water.​
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The first two phases of the Forge River Watershed Sewer Project are expected to hook up many homes and businesses and safely treat millions of gallons of waste annually.​
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The project is expected to reduce nitrogen by 70% in the Forge River, the most severely polluted water way in Suffolk County. ​
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Combined with sewer projects in three other priority areas, harmful nitrogen pollution in the Great South Bay is projected to be reduced by 25%.
Read Newsday's cover story about Suffolk County's effort to improve water quality, boost economic development and protect against storm surges by clicking the link below​
Community Outreach
Suffolk County has held community events to educate Mastic and Shirley area residents about the Forge River Watershed Sewer Project. Each event allowed residents to ask questions about the project and have an open dialect about their needs. To read more about each event, Click Here
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Suffolk County, in cooperation with the Governor’s Office of Storm Recovery, the state Department of Environmental Conservation and state Environmental Facilities Corporation, has begun its first major investment in advanced wastewater treatment in decades. The projects propose to extend sewers to communities along the Great South Bay that have substandard septic systems, dense populations, a short depth to groundwater, and short travel times for nitrogen-enriched groundwater to enter rivers and bays. Extending sewers is a crucial factor in helping these communities continue recovering from the devastating impacts of Superstorm Sandy.
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Learn more about how the county and state are working together:
Read recent articles about the start of
work on Forge River Watershed Project
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