SOURCE:
https://www.audacy.com/1010wins/news/4-li-water-districts-exceed-states-1-4-dioxane-limit
By Sophia Hall - November 27, 2023
NEW YORK (1010 WINS/WCBS 880) – New York became the first state in 2020 to enforce a standard for the chemical 1,4-dioxane in drinking water yet four Long Island water districts do not align with these regulations.
The water districts – the Jericho Water District, the village of Hempstead, the Town of Hempstead, and Liberty Water’s Merrick district – affect around 150,000 customers.
1,4-dioxane, identified by the Environmental Protection Agency as a probable carcinogen, is commonly found in industrial solvents, household detergents, and other products. It seeps into groundwater from industrial sites and landfills.
It has been detected in 70% of Long Island’s public water wells.
"This is not something that should be taken lightly," Adrienne Esposito, executive director at Citizens Campaign for the Environment, said. "This is not something we can put off for tomorrow. This is something that's impacting members of the public every time they drink a cup of coffee, have a cup of tea or drink a glass of water."
The state standard, set at 1 part per billion, aims to mitigate the risks posed by this contaminant.
However, suppliers are having difficulty meeting these standards, primarily due to the costly and complex nature of the required treatment method.
The advanced oxidation process, involving hydrogen peroxide and ultraviolet light, is the only known effective treatment for breaking down 1,4-dioxane but requires significant investment in both time and resources to implement.
The state initially offered two-year deferrals to suppliers, with an option for an additional year, to enable them to establish the necessary treatment systems.
Of the 28 suppliers that received these deferrals, 14 were in Nassau County and seven in Suffolk, with 17 eventually receiving one-year extensions, Newsday reported.
These arrangements have expired and suppliers are still not in compliance and have been given a final one-year exemption before they face financial penalties.
Customers of these districts were sent notices about the "exceedances" but are assured that the water remains safe to drink.
Jericho Water District's superintendent told 1010WINS that they aim to achieve compliance by the end of 2024.
1010 WINS reached out to the other three districts and they did not reply.
The debate continues on whether the current standard sufficiently protects human health, as the full toxic effects of chronic exposure to such compounds can take decades to manifest.