The Suffolk County Water Authority released the following statement from Chairman Charles Lefkowitz on the announcement of a national drinking water standard for certain PFAS:
“Today is a historic day for drinking water. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency announced a national drinking water standard for certain PFAS. We applaud them for taking this critical step to protect public health. Since the announcement of the proposed rule last year, the Suffolk County Water Authority has been preparing for this and we are well on our way to meeting all regulatory requirements within the timeframe laid out by EPA. Since 2020, when New York enacted its own PFAS rules, SCWA has been meeting or surpassing all standards. It has given us a great head start on the new rules, but there is still work to be done. Our customers should rest assured that the water that comes out of their tap is treated for PFAS when it is detected and that the water that they drink is of the highest quality.”
More About SCWA and PFAS:
- The Suffolk County Water Authority pumps water from the aquifer from about 600 public supply wells across Suffolk County.
- About 1/3rd of those wells are equipped with a Granular Activated Carbon (GAC) treatment system that removes PFAS and other contaminants from drinking water.
- SCWA is meeting the current New York State standard for PFOA/PFOS of 10 parts per trillion and has its own internal standard that is lower than state regulatory requirements.
- While many organizations have outlined the widespread presence of PFAS in Long Island’s aquifer, customers should know that water pumped from the ground is treated to remove contaminants before it gets to their tap.
About the Suffolk County Water Authority
The Suffolk County Water Authority is an independent public-benefit corporation operating under the authority of the Public Authorities Law of the State of New York. Serving approximately 1.2 million Suffolk County residents, the Authority operates without taxing power on a not-for-profit basis.