Suffolk Water Authority outlines 6-year-plan to remove toxins from drinking water

The Suffolk County Water Authority is looking to ease concerns over its ability to detect and remove potential cancer-causing toxins from Long Island’s drinking water.

News 12 Staff

Sep 23, 2019, 6:43 PM

Updated 1,669 days ago

Share:

The Suffolk County Water Authority is looking to ease concerns over its ability to detect and remove potential cancer-causing toxins from Long Island’s drinking water.
It outlined a six-year action plan to deal with contaminants in the drinking water before the Suffolk County Legislature’s Environmental Committee.
PFOS and PFOA are chemicals used in firefighting foam and other flame-retardant products. It is removed with carbon granulation.
1, 4 dioxane, a byproduct found in personal care products and in industrial solvents, is more difficult to remove from the water and requires brand-new technology called advanced oxidation process, or AOP. New York state was the first in the nation to set a maximum contaminant level at 1 part per billion (ppb).
The Suffolk County Water Authority says it has 31 wells that will need to be treated for 1,4 dioxane, but that number can change.
It’s estimated to cost roughly $75 million just to install the systems. A portion of that money will come from state funding, but the water authority believes it will have to charge customers $100 more a year to pay for the filtration systems.
Water authority officials claim besides the funding, the New York State Department of Health has been too slow to approve permits for the 1, 4 dioxane filtration system.
Environmentalists say the six-year plan is six years too long, but water authority officials say that time is needed to get the funding to install filtration systems in the wells across Suffolk.
The authority hopes to start implementing the removal of the contaminants by early 2020.
 
 
 


More from News 12
2:50
Lyndhurst in Bloom flower show is this weekend at Lyndhurst Mansion

Lyndhurst in Bloom flower show is this weekend at Lyndhurst Mansion

2:03
Dry morning for Friday throughout the Hudson Valley before evening showers roll in

Dry morning for Friday throughout the Hudson Valley before evening showers roll in

Vote 2024: Ask your questions for Congressional District 16 Democratic candidates

Vote 2024: Ask your questions for Congressional District 16 Democratic candidates

0:24
Holtec International sues NYS over law banning discharge of radiological waste into the Hudson

Holtec International sues NYS over law banning discharge of radiological waste into the Hudson

0:29
Cortlandt community composting program accepting food scraps

Cortlandt community composting program accepting food scraps

0:26
Rifton USPS in Ulster County closed indefinitely due to safety hazard

Rifton USPS in Ulster County closed indefinitely due to safety hazard

0:21
The Orange County Land Trust launches wilderness campaign effort

The Orange County Land Trust launches wilderness campaign effort

0:46
Westchester County’s Environmental Facilities hosted its 5th annual Eco Awards

Westchester County’s Environmental Facilities hosted its 5th annual Eco Awards

0:40
Authorities: Mahopac man captured sexually explicit images of children with hidden camera

Authorities: Mahopac man captured sexually explicit images of children with hidden camera

0:50
Bark Air is launching flights catered to dogs out of Westchester County Airport

Bark Air is launching flights catered to dogs out of Westchester County Airport

1:40
Preliminary report uncovers over 100 potential unmarked burials at historic Rye cemetery

Preliminary report uncovers over 100 potential unmarked burials at historic Rye cemetery

0:12
Police: Woman hurt in Yonkers stabbing

Police: Woman hurt in Yonkers stabbing

0:43
City of Yonkers to run Nepperhan Community Center following financial mismanagement report

City of Yonkers to run Nepperhan Community Center following financial mismanagement report

Is your mom awesome? Hudson Valley tell us why your Mom Rocks!

Is your mom awesome? Hudson Valley tell us why your Mom Rocks!

0:54
Guide: How to host Passover on a budget

Guide: How to host Passover on a budget

0:56
Retail prevention plan to include harsher penalties, additional patrols

Retail prevention plan to include harsher penalties, additional patrols

1:47
'Evening in Good Taste' helps feed hungry in Westchester County

'Evening in Good Taste' helps feed hungry in Westchester County

0:30
Hearing for New City stabbing suspect rescheduled for next week

Hearing for New City stabbing suspect rescheduled for next week

0:53
Carmel School District closes in on budget agreement following months of debates

Carmel School District closes in on budget agreement following months of debates

0:44
Greenburgh's ex-Parks and Recreation commissioner honored with renaming of multipurpose center

Greenburgh's ex-Parks and Recreation commissioner honored with renaming of multipurpose center