Long Island's Water Quality: Is It Safe?

Long Island's water quality is a cause for concern. The island's drinking water comes from a single source: an underground aquifer. However, this groundwater is vulnerable to contamination by chemicals, sewage, and saltwater intrusion. Excessive nitrogen in the water has led to toxic algal blooms and oxygen-starved dead zones, threatening both human and animal health. The water has also been found to contain harmful levels of PFOA, PFOS, and PFAS, which have been linked to various health issues, including cancer. While filtration systems can help improve water quality, the underlying issues of pollution and saltwater intrusion in Long Island's water supply remain a pressing challenge.

Nitrogen pollution

Long Island's water quality is a cause for concern, with excessive nitrogen pollution being a significant issue. Nitrogen pollution in Long Island's water has been linked to onsite wastewater, with sewage seeping into groundwater and ultimately reaching bays, harbors, and estuaries. This has resulted in toxic algae blooms and oxygen-depleted dead zones, impacting the region's fishing industry and posing risks to both human and animal health.

Nitrogen is an essential element for plant growth, but an excess of it in aquatic ecosystems can have detrimental effects. In the case of Long Island, the excessive nitrogen stimulates toxic algal blooms, which then remove oxygen from the bottom waters as they decay, creating dead zones that are harmful to marine life. This process is fueled by heavy rainfall, which brings more nitrogen from land to sea, as seen during the summer of 2021 when every major bay and estuary across Long Island experienced these disturbing events.

Traditional cesspools and septic systems in Long Island are a major contributor to nitrogen pollution in groundwater aquifers. These systems are not designed to prevent reactive nitrogen from entering the aquifers, which then serve as the source of drinking water for Nassau and Suffolk Counties. The use of fertilizers and air pollution are additional factors that increase nitrogen levels in the region's water supply.

To address the issue of nitrogen pollution, policies to mitigate nitrogen loading have been proposed, such as upgrading onsite septic systems and transitioning to newer, cleaner wastewater treatment options. Environmental groups and organizations like the Citizens Campaign for the Environment are advocating for stronger regulations and urging local governments to prioritize improving water quality.

The New York League of Conservation Voters has also been pushing for action, with Suffolk County being authorized to establish a county-wide wastewater management district to improve efficiency and testing. Additionally, funds have been made available through the state's Environmental Bond Act to support water quality improvement initiatives. These efforts are crucial to protect and restore Long Island's water resources and ensure safe drinking water for its residents.

Water filtration systems

The water in Long Island is contaminated with harmful levels of PFOA, 1,4-dioxane, PFOS, and PFAS. PFOA and PFOS are synthetic contaminants that have been linked to adverse health effects, including cancer and birth defects. Excessive nitrogen in the water, caused by onsite wastewater, has also led to toxic algae blooms and oxygen-starved dead zones.

To address these issues and ensure access to safe drinking water, residents of Long Island can consider installing a home water filtration system. There are two main types of water filtration systems: whole-house filtration systems and under-sink filtration systems. Whole-house filtration systems treat water for the entire home, improving water quality for drinking, bathing, cleaning, and cooking. These systems can address common problems with well and municipal water, such as iron, sediment, sulfur, and chlorine. Companies like Culligan offer targeted whole-house water filtration solutions that can be monitored remotely through apps.

On the other hand, under-sink filtration systems purify water at a specific point of dispensation, usually the kitchen sink, where water is primarily used for drinking and cooking. Companies like High Water Standard offer under-sink filters that can eliminate up to 99.99% of heavy metals and microorganisms.

Unsafe drinking water

Long Island's drinking water is unsafe due to various factors, including groundwater pollution, nitrogen pollution, and the presence of toxic chemicals.

Firstly, the groundwater in Long Island, which serves as the primary source of drinking water, is vulnerable to contamination. This is due to the use of cesspools and septic systems, which allow human waste and reactive nitrogen to seep into the groundwater. Suffolk County, in particular, relies heavily on cesspools, and the wastewater from these systems has been identified as the largest source of nitrogen in the surface waters. This excessive nitrogen stimulates toxic algal blooms, which can remove oxygen from the water and pose risks to both human and animal health.

Additionally, Long Island's drinking water is contaminated with harmful chemicals, including PFOA, PFOS, and PFAS. These chemicals are highly toxic and persistent in the environment, taking thousands of years to break down. Exposure to these chemicals has been linked to adverse health effects, including cancer, immunity issues, fertility problems, and learning difficulties. The presence of these contaminants in the water supply has raised concerns among residents, with many opting not to drink the tap water.

The pollution of Long Island's drinking water has significant implications for public health and the environment. High levels of nitrogen and toxic chemicals in the water can lead to an increased risk of cancer and other health issues for those consuming the water. Additionally, the degradation of water quality can have negative consequences for the local ecosystem, including aquatic life and wildlife that depend on clean water sources.

To address the issue of unsafe drinking water, there have been calls for improved wastewater management and the implementation of newer, cleaner septic systems. Environmental groups and organizations like the Citizens Campaign for the Environment are urging for stronger regulations and compliance with EPA standards. In Suffolk County, there are plans to establish a county-wide wastewater management district and generate funds for water-quality restoration.

In the meantime, residents of Long Island are recommended to use water filters to purify their drinking water and protect themselves from harmful contaminants. Undersink filters and whole-house filtration systems can effectively remove contaminants, ensuring access to safe drinking water.

PFAS chemicals

Long Island's groundwater and surface water are polluted due to numerous contamination sites across the island. The water that comes out of every spigot in Nassau and Suffolk County comes from groundwater aquifers and nowhere else. The traditional Long Island cesspools and septic systems are not designed to keep reactive nitrogen from entering these groundwater aquifers. This has led to toxic algae blooms and oxygen-starved, dead zones across Long Island.

However, another major concern is the presence of PFAS chemicals in the water. PFAS refers to a family of man-made synthetic chemicals, including PFOA and PFOS. PFAS chemicals are used for their waterproofing and stain-resistant properties. They are commonly found in fabric conditioners, firefighting foam, and older styles of Teflon. PFAS are called "forever chemicals" because they never break down in the environment and keep accumulating, leading to increasing levels of these chemicals.

PFAS contamination has been detected in the groundwater across Long Island, particularly in areas close to airports, military, and firefighting training areas. A study of water quality reports from 48 water districts across Long Island found that 33 water districts had traces of PFAS in their drinking water. The levels of PFAS varied across different water districts, with some areas having much higher concentrations than others. For example, the Suffolk County Water Authority's Distribution Area 20, which serves multiple communities, had a cumulative PFAS level of 99 parts per trillion.

The presence of PFAS in drinking water is a cause for concern as these chemicals have been linked to adverse health effects. According to the EPA, exposure to certain levels of PFOA and PFOS, which are types of PFAS, may result in birth defects, cancer, liver tissue damage, and cholesterol changes. To address this issue, the Citizens Campaign for the Environment has been advocating for stricter regulations and the implementation of filtration systems to remove PFAS from drinking water.

Saltwater intrusion

However, if the natural hydraulic gradient is reversed by pumping, the fresh groundwater flows toward the pumping well instead of seaward toward the interface, causing the interface to move landward and allowing saltwater intrusion to occur. Saltwater intrusion can also be caused by localized heavy pumpage. For example, in southwestern Queens County, past heavy pumpage has caused saltwater intrusion into the Jameco and Magothy aquifers.

The Ghyben-Herzberg relationship describes the relationship between freshwater and saltwater heads in coastal aquifers or small oceanic islands. According to this relationship, for every foot of freshwater above sea level, there is about 40 feet of freshwater below sea level. This makes coastal aquifers very susceptible to saltwater intrusion due to pumping. If pumping in a coastal aquifer lowers the water table by 1 foot, the thickness of the freshwater body within the aquifer will decrease by approximately 40 feet, allowing the denser saltwater at depth to "intrude" into the aquifer.

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