New York American Water Receives Deferral from State As Company Pursues Treatment for Emerging Compounds - Glen Head
Treatment Improvements for Glen Head Facility
Sea Cliff, NY (January 29, 2021)—New York American Water (NYAW) has received a compliance deferral from the New York State Department of Health as the company pursues treatment for perfluorooctanesulfonic acid (PFOS) at its Glen Head facility. The compliance deferral is an agreement between NYAW and the Department of Health on a schedule and approach to install treatment improvements to meet new drinking water regulations. This deferral is only available to water providers who have an approved action plan for addressing the new regulations. On August 26, 2020, the New York State Department of Health finalized regulations establishing Maximum Contaminant Levels (MCLs) for 1,4-Dioxane at 1 part per billion (ppb) and perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) and perfluorooctanesulfonic acid (PFOS) at 10 parts per trillion (ppt).
“We have been focused on emerging compounds since before the state’s regulations were finalized and we are prepared to combat PFOS at our Glen Head facility,” said New York American Water Director of Engineering John Kilpatrick. “Construction of a Granular Activated Carbon treatment system will allow us to meet and surpass the new MCLs and we aim to start construction this winter, as long as the weather cooperates.”
According to the New York State Department of Health, “The MCLs are set well below levels known to cause health effects in animal studies. Therefore, consuming water with PFOS at the level detected does not pose a significant health risk. Your water continues to be acceptable for all uses.”
NYAW’s water quality testing showed PFOS levels in the groundwater well at Glen Head up to 17.6 ppt, which is well under the EPA’s required action level of 70 ppt, but now above the new standard of 10 ppt established by the state.
PFOS is effectively removed from drinking water using Granular Activated Carbon (GAC) treatment. Large vessels are filled with activated carbon which attracts the contaminants as water passes through it. These vessels, which work very similar to your household carbon filter, hold approximately 80,000 pounds of carbon and are sampled frequently to ensure the systems are operating as expected.
Residents interested in learning more about these emerging compounds, please visit www.nyamwater.com/emergingcompounds. To read the official notice from the Department of Health about the compliance deferral, please visit www.nyamwater.com/emergingcompounds/glenhead.
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New York American Water, a subsidiary of American Water (NYSE: AWK), is the largest investor-owned water company in New York, providing high-quality and reliable water and/or wastewater services to approximately 350,000 people. For more information, visit www.newyorkamwater.com and follow New York American Water on Twitter and Facebook.
About American Water
With a history dating back to 1886, American Water is the largest and most geographically diverse U.S. publicly traded water and wastewater utility company. The company employs more than 6,800 dedicated professionals who provide regulated and market-based drinking water, wastewater and other related services to 15 million people in 46 states. American Water provides safe, clean, affordable, and reliable water services to our customers to make sure we keep their lives flowing. For more information, visit amwater.com and follow American Water on Twitter, Facebook, and LinkedIn.
Sea Cliff, NY (January 29, 2021)—New York American Water (NYAW) has received a compliance deferral from the New York State Department of Health as the company pursues treatment for perfluorooctanesulfonic acid (PFOS) at its Glen Head facility. The compliance deferral is an agreement between NYAW and the Department of Health on a schedule and approach to install treatment improvements to meet new drinking water regulations. This deferral is only available to water providers who have an approved action plan for addressing the new regulations. On August 26, 2020, the New York State Department of Health finalized regulations establishing Maximum Contaminant Levels (MCLs) for 1,4-Dioxane at 1 part per billion (ppb) and perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) and perfluorooctanesulfonic acid (PFOS) at 10 parts per trillion (ppt).
“We have been focused on emerging compounds since before the state’s regulations were finalized and we are prepared to combat PFOS at our Glen Head facility,” said New York American Water Director of Engineering John Kilpatrick. “Construction of a Granular Activated Carbon treatment system will allow us to meet and surpass the new MCLs and we aim to start construction this winter, as long as the weather cooperates.”
According to the New York State Department of Health, “The MCLs are set well below levels known to cause health effects in animal studies. Therefore, consuming water with PFOS at the level detected does not pose a significant health risk. Your water continues to be acceptable for all uses.”
NYAW’s water quality testing showed PFOS levels in the groundwater well at Glen Head up to 17.6 ppt, which is well under the EPA’s required action level of 70 ppt, but now above the new standard of 10 ppt established by the state.
PFOS is effectively removed from drinking water using Granular Activated Carbon (GAC) treatment. Large vessels are filled with activated carbon which attracts the contaminants as water passes through it. These vessels, which work very similar to your household carbon filter, hold approximately 80,000 pounds of carbon and are sampled frequently to ensure the systems are operating as expected.
Residents interested in learning more about these emerging compounds, please visit www.nyamwater.com/emergingcompounds. To read the official notice from the Department of Health about the compliance deferral, please visit www.nyamwater.com/emergingcompounds/glenhead.
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New York American Water, a subsidiary of American Water (NYSE: AWK), is the largest investor-owned water company in New York, providing high-quality and reliable water and/or wastewater services to approximately 350,000 people. For more information, visit www.newyorkamwater.com and follow New York American Water on Twitter and Facebook.
About American Water
With a history dating back to 1886, American Water is the largest and most geographically diverse U.S. publicly traded water and wastewater utility company. The company employs more than 6,800 dedicated professionals who provide regulated and market-based drinking water, wastewater and other related services to 15 million people in 46 states. American Water provides safe, clean, affordable, and reliable water services to our customers to make sure we keep their lives flowing. For more information, visit amwater.com and follow American Water on Twitter, Facebook, and LinkedIn.