Suffolk Water Authority Leader Installed as Chair of LI Water Conference

Brendan Warner, a senior official at the Suffolk County Water Authority, is taking the helm of the Long Island Water Conference as of January 6, 2026. The conference brings together water suppliers across Long Island to coordinate planning, technical exchange and collective responses to sector-wide challenges. Warner’s installation underscores the conference’s role as a convening institution for utilities facing common constraints.

Warner’s selection follows recognition of his experience at the Suffolk County Water Authority, which serves roughly 1.2 million Suffolk County residents. The authority’s customer base and operational footprint make its leadership perspective central to regional deliberations about aging infrastructure, long-term sustainability and the daily operational challenges water systems face. The conference’s agenda for 2026 includes a series of meetings and initiatives aimed at strengthening cooperation among suppliers, according to the organization’s planning for the year.

At the top of the LIWC’s priorities are infrastructure investment and preservation, water quality and supply sustainability, and operational resilience. These areas carry immediate implications for local residents: decisions made by the conference can influence the pace and coordination of capital projects, approaches to emerging contaminants, emergency response protocols for storms or system failures, and the pursuit of state or federal funding. A coordinated regional approach can reduce duplication of effort, improve access to technical expertise, and help smaller systems adopt best practices developed by larger utilities.

Institutionally, the LIWC functions as a forum where member utilities align on regulatory strategy, procure technical resources, and develop joint proposals for grants and funding. Warner’s chairmanship places the Suffolk County Water Authority in a leadership position to steer those discussions, potentially shaping regional priorities and collaborative projects that affect operational costs and service reliability across the county.

For residents, the practical effects to watch for include announcements about coordinated infrastructure projects, updates on water quality testing and treatment plans, and information on emergency preparedness tied to system operations. Civic engagement with water providers and attendance at public meetings remain primary ways for residents to influence local priorities. Warner’s installation signals that those conversations will increasingly be framed at a regional level, with the goal of aligning supplier efforts to protect Long Island’s water resources and service delivery.