North Shirley
The U.S. Department of Energy reports that the Suffolk County Water Authority has connected 709 homes to public water in North Shirley area. Between 750 and 800 homes are eligible for hookup.
To ensure that all eligible individuals receive public water, the Department of Energy is conducting a title search on properties that have not already responded. Anyone who is eligible, but has not yet applied, should contact the Suffolk County Water Authority as soon as possible to obtain an application.
The goal is to complete hookups by December 31, 1996. Depending on weather conditions, some of the restoration work may need to be delayed until spring. This could include a final coat of asphalt, concrete work, and reseeding of grass or replacement of sod.
The Department of Energy expects contractors to return all properties to their original condition. Homeowners concerned about having their property restored to its original state are encouraged to take photographs "before" and "after" connection work. Individuals should also know which contractor did the work and the date work was done.
During November, the Department of Energy received several complaints about settling of soil used to backfill water line excavations. The Suffolk County Water Authority is responding to this problem as quickly as possible. However, hookups remain the first priority.
"Once the hookups are completed, the effort will focus on filling the holes," said Rich Freeman, the Department of Energy's project manager. "Holes will be filled sooner if the settling has resulted in a potential threat to the safety of individuals walking in the area."
Manorville
Work is also progressing in the upper Weeks Avenue, North Street and South Street areas of Manorville, where about 100 homes are to be hooked up.
The latest Suffolk County Water Authority information(as of the week ending December 17) on the hookup project in this area reports: