New York American Water Receives Deferral from State As Company Pursues Treatment for Emerging Compounds - Seamans Neck
Treatment Improvements at Seamans Neck Road Facility
Merrick, 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 1,4-Dioxane at its Seamans Neck Road facility in North Wantagh. 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).
“Combating 1,4-Dioxane and other emerging compounds has been a priority of New York American Water’s well before the State regulations were finalized,” said New York American Water Director of Engineering John Kilpatrick. “There is no off-the-shelf treatment option for 1,4-Dioxane, so constructing an effective treatment system requires significant planning, design, execution and approvals to come to fruition. Our action plan to implement treatment is well underway and this additional time to come into compliance will allow us to continue serving our customers without interruption.”
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 1,4-Dioxane 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 1,4-Dioxane in the two groundwater wells at the Seamans Neck Road facility. 1,4-Dioxane measured between 1.4 and 1.7 ppb. PFOA and PFOS were non-detect. To address 1,4-Dioxane, NYAW has prepared for the construction of the necessary Advanced Oxidation Process (AOP) and Granular Activated Carbon (GAC) systems, which are the only approved methods to remove 1,4-Dioxane from the water supply.
AOP treatment, when coupled with GAC, is the only proven method to remove 1,4-Dioxane from the water supply. AOP treatment works by mixing an oxidant (hydrogen peroxide) with water and running it through ultraviolet light. This creates a chemical reaction that breaks apart the 1,4-Dioxane molecules, which can then be removed by the GAC filters prior to the treated water entering the distribution system.
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/seamansneck.
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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.
Merrick, 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 1,4-Dioxane at its Seamans Neck Road facility in North Wantagh. 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).
“Combating 1,4-Dioxane and other emerging compounds has been a priority of New York American Water’s well before the State regulations were finalized,” said New York American Water Director of Engineering John Kilpatrick. “There is no off-the-shelf treatment option for 1,4-Dioxane, so constructing an effective treatment system requires significant planning, design, execution and approvals to come to fruition. Our action plan to implement treatment is well underway and this additional time to come into compliance will allow us to continue serving our customers without interruption.”
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 1,4-Dioxane 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 1,4-Dioxane in the two groundwater wells at the Seamans Neck Road facility. 1,4-Dioxane measured between 1.4 and 1.7 ppb. PFOA and PFOS were non-detect. To address 1,4-Dioxane, NYAW has prepared for the construction of the necessary Advanced Oxidation Process (AOP) and Granular Activated Carbon (GAC) systems, which are the only approved methods to remove 1,4-Dioxane from the water supply.
AOP treatment, when coupled with GAC, is the only proven method to remove 1,4-Dioxane from the water supply. AOP treatment works by mixing an oxidant (hydrogen peroxide) with water and running it through ultraviolet light. This creates a chemical reaction that breaks apart the 1,4-Dioxane molecules, which can then be removed by the GAC filters prior to the treated water entering the distribution system.
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/seamansneck.
###
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.