Sewer District

The Riverhead Sewer District plant was originally constructed in 1937 as a primary treatment plant with chlorination for disinfection. In 1959, the plant was upgraded to a secondary treatment facility with the installation of trickling filters. The plant was upgraded again in the year 2000. The improvements included the installation of sequencing batch reactors (SBRs) and the use of ultraviolet light for disinfection. The most recent upgrade was in 2016 when the plant was converted to a membrane batch reactor ( MBR ) plant.  This allowed for discharge of the plant's effluent water, up to 450,000 gallons per day, to be used to irrigate the Indian Island Golf Course.

The plant's permitted capacity is 1,500,000 gallons per day, with a current flow of about 1,200,000 gallons per day.

The Riverhead Sewer District boundaries mainly include the hub area and business district of Riverhead. There are twelve (12) pumping stations and approximately 25 miles of sewer mains that transport sewage to the treatment plant.

For a resident to connect to the Riverhead Sewer District, please complete the form below and return it to the District office at 2 River Avenue off Riverside Drive.

In addition, the Town of Riverhead also owns the Riverhead Scavenger Waste plant. The scavenger waste plant treats waste from private and commercial septic systems or cesspools. Septic waste from the five East End towns and Eastern Brookhaven is transported to the plant by private haulers. The current dump fee is $.125 per gallon or $125 per one thousand gallons.

The Town of Riverhead formed the Calverton Sewer District in 1999 when the old Grumman property was transferred to the Town. The district consists of 550 acres, which make up the industrial core area. There are three pumping stations that transport wastewater to the treatment plant, which was constructed in the early 1950s. An upgrade of this facility is scheduled to start within the next two years.

Sewer Drain Layers

To become an authorized Drain layer (PDF) for the Town of Riverhead:

INSTRUCTIONS TO BECOME AN AUTHORIZED DRAIN LAYER

1. Write a letter addressed to Tim Allen, Sewer District Superintendent, indicating your interest in becoming an authorized drain layer.  Include your sewer experience and list jobs, in detail, that you have previously completed.  This may be mailed to Riverhead Sewer District, 4 West Second Street, Riverhead, NY 11901 or emailed to: allen@townofriverheadny.gov.  Once reviewed, Superintendent Allen will notify you and you will proceed with the following steps:

2. Post an irrevocable letter of credit in the amount of $5,000.00

3.  Provide a certificate of insurance naming the Town of Riverhead and the Riverhead Sewer District as additionally insured.

Scavenger Waste District

To obtain a Scavenger Waste License to dump at the Riverhead Scavenger Waste Treatment Plant, you must provide the following:

1. Completed & notarized Scavenger Waste Application (PDF).
2. $250.00 permit fee per truck being registered to dump
3. A copy of Liquid Waste Haulers License issued by S.C. Labor, Licensing & Consumer Affairs
4. A copy of the NYS Driver's License (owner of company)
5. A copy of the insurance card for each truck
6. A copy of the registration for each truck
7. Proof of tank size certification for any NEW truck being added
8. Proof of liability insurance naming Town of Riverhead as certificate holder
9. Completed Credit Card Form (PDF)

Items 1-9 may be hand delivered to the Sewer District, 2 River Avenue, Riverhead, NY 11901. Please call 631-727-3069 with any questions.

**It is to be understood that only domestic waste and limited commercial waste (i.e.: restaurants, hotels) will be accepted here. NO Industrial Waste such as dry cleaners, laundries or chemical handling companies, automobile oil or other petroleum products will be accepted here. In addition, the following list    of toxic or hazardous substances and chemicals are also banned from the plant.  They include but are not limited to: pesticides, acids, paints, paint thinner, herbicides, solvents, photographic chemicals, water-softening agents, duck blood and grease trap waste.

Also excluded: Cesspool cleaning and drain-opening products which are prohibited by Article 39 of the New York Conservation Law, or Suffolk County Local Law No. 12-1980.