Bill Davidson sworn to SCWA board, will guide aquifer investments

William (Bill) Davidson was sworn in to the Suffolk County Water Authority board following unanimous confirmation by the Suffolk County Legislature on Jan. 15, 2026. He replaces Tim Bishop and will serve a five-year term, joining the panel that sets policy for one of the region’s most critical public utilities.

Davidson arrives with decades of experience in government affairs and nonprofit housing leadership. SCWA leadership said his background in public service and infrastructure planning will aid the authority’s mission to protect Long Island’s aquifer and manage system investments. The board seat gives Davidson a direct role in decisions that shape long-term water supply, capital spending and operational priorities for communities across Suffolk County.

The appointment comes as water authorities nationwide reckon with aging infrastructure, rising costs and climate-driven pressures on coastal aquifers. Locally, SCWA’s choices on capital projects and investment timing can affect service reliability, resilience to sea level rise and the pace of infrastructure upgrades in both densely settled hamlets and more rural parts of the county. Davidson’s experience in housing and government relations could tighten coordination between water planning and land-use decisions, a nexus that influences local permitting, growth and environmental protection.

Replacing a high-profile predecessor, Davidson will participate in board reviews of systemwide capital plans and long-range financial strategies. For residents, this may translate into changes in project priorities, updated asset management approaches, and decisions that influence future rate-setting or customer-facing programs. The SCWA board also plays a role in communicating risks to the public and in coordinating with county, state and federal partners on funding and regulatory compliance.

Davidson’s nonprofit background brings a perspective shaped by community-level service and the often-complex negotiations between public agencies and private stakeholders. That experience may be particularly relevant as SCWA navigates grant opportunities, infrastructure financing and efforts to protect the sole-source aquifer beneath Long Island. For Suffolk County households and businesses, oversight of those investments will directly affect how reliably clean water is delivered and how the authority balances short-term expenditures with long-term system health.

What comes next is practical and immediate: Davidson will take part in upcoming board meetings and committee work where capital projects, budgetary plans and regulatory matters are debated and approved. Residents who follow SCWA’s agendas will see how his voting record and priorities influence the authority’s approach to protecting the aquifer and stewarding the county’s water infrastructure going forward.