County Approves $1.55 Million Grant to Remove Contaminants From Water

(MINEOLA, N.Y.) – The Nassau County Legislature voted unanimously on Monday, Jan. 23 to designate $1.55 million to support an array of water quality initiatives. This allocation is drawn from $6 million of the County’s federal American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funding that the County previously dedicated toward water quality improvement initiatives. Of that sum, the $1.55 million was allocated toward $50,000 grants for eligible public and private water suppliers in support of their efforts to remove emerging contaminants and toxins from our drinking water.

Water districts can apply the funding toward conducting studies; planning and designing remediation initiatives; purchasing equipment, materials, and supplies; developing operations manuals, guidelines, and materials; maintaining removal systems that are already online; and defraying the cost of lab testing. The Nassau County Department of Public Works will oversee the administration and implementation of these projects.

Within the 11th Legislative District, the Glen Cove, Port Washington, Roslyn, and Sands Point Water Districts are eligible to receive grant funding to combat emerging contaminants such as 1, 4-Dioxane and PFOs/PFOAs (perfluorooctanoic acid), which have been found in the sole-source aquifers that provide Long Island with its drinking water.

“Removing dangerous emerging contaminants like 1,4-Dioxane, PFOs and PFOAs from our drinking water must be one of our top public health priorities,” Nassau County Legislator Delia DeRiggi-Whitton (D - Glen Cove) said. “I am proud and gratified that the Legislature unanimously allocated ARPA funding to our water suppliers in support of these crucial ongoing efforts.”

A likely carcinogen, 1,4-Dioxane is a byproduct of industrial processing and is found in common items such as anti-freeze, shampoo, and laundry detergent. It is called a “forever chemical” because it is resistant to water, heat, and normal biodegradation, which means it can last for thousands of years.

PFOAs and PFOs are synthetic chemicals that were once used to coat non-stick, waterproof, or stain-resistant products. Although these compounds have not been made in the United States for more than two decades, these chemicals never break down, and they have been discovered in our soil and water. Human health impacts include developmental defects, cancer, liver damage, immune disorders, and more.

To learn more about ongoing efforts to preserve and protect our drinking water, contact your local water district or reach out to Legislator DeRiggi-Whitton’s office at dderiggiwhitton@nassaucountyny.gov or 516-571-6211.