Long Island relies solely on groundwater for drinking water. Contamination from improper disposal of household hazardous waste and excess nutrients like nitrogen are negatively impacting water quality. Nitrogen levels are rising in all aquifers due to septic systems, sewage treatment plants, fertilizers, and agriculture. Common contaminants detected include volatile organic chemicals, MTBE, and pesticides. Over 100 pesticides have been found in drinking water wells. The top three pesticides detected are imidacloprid, atrazine, and metalaxyl. Pharmaceutical drugs are also emerging contaminants being detected in surface and groundwater. Proper disposal of wastes and reduction of hazardous chemicals is needed to protect Long Island's sole source aqu

1. Threats & Solutions
Adrienne Esposito
Executive Director, Citizens Campaign for the
Environment
&
Bob DeLuca
President, Group for the East End
Long Island’s Drinking
Water

2. Where Does Long Island Get Drinking Water?

3. Where does LI get our drinking water?
Long Island is a sole-source aquifer region, which means we residents rely on
groundwater for 100% of our drinking water. A clean, healthy aquifer system is vital
to maintaining Long Islanders’ quality of life. Contamination of groundwater from
improper household hazardous waste disposal negatively impacts public health, our
environment and pollutes groundwater supplies.
Glacial Aquifer:
10,000 years old
Magothy Aquifer:
65 million years old
Lloyd Aquifer: 70+
million years old

4. Summary Position
From Draft Comprehensive Plan Introduction of 12/7/2010
“Much of the County’s ground and surface water resources
continue to meet the water quality criteria established to
assess resource suitability for its best intended uses.”
“Nevertheless, the data also shows a continued and gradual
decline of water quality. Unfortunately, these concerning
trends identify the need for increased water protection
efforts at the County level (ES-1) .”

5. Summary Findings – Nitrates
Septic, Sewage Plants, Fertilizers
Nitrate pollution is largely due to human settlement
Negatively impacts groundwater, marine & freshwater ecological
resources.
Nitrate levels are increasing in all Long Island aquifers
Total Upper Glacial Public Supply Wells – up by 40% (4.34 mg/l)
Total Magothy Public Supply Wells - up 200% (3.4 mg/l)
Deeper supply wells now used to reach cleaner water
1/3 of private wells tested exceed nitrate targets (4-6
mg/l)
Approximately 10% exceed 10 mg/l MCL threshold

6. Summary Findings – Nitrates
Septic, Sewage Plants, Fertilizers
“Sanitary wastewater management is the most important
factor affecting nitrate levels throughout most of the County.”
Many sewage plants (STP’s) reduce nitrates, but SCDHS faced
recent “challenges” getting nitrate compliance from STP’s
Proliferation of smaller plants more difficult to monitor & maintain
1MM Suffolk residents use 340,000 on-site wastewater systems
Nitrate reduction very limited & highly variable (10-50%)
60% of residential properties in Suffolk do not meet minimum
lot size to achieve Article VI drinking water protection goals
<10mg/l

7. Summary Findings – Nitrates
Septic, Sewage Plants, Fertilizers
Fertilizers are “a significant source of Nitrogen in the aquifer”
Agriculture is “a major source of Nitrogen contamination”
Nitrogen varies depending upon the crops grown
Row crops 13.4 mg/l
Vineyards 5.1 mg/l
Suffolk Fertilizer Ban (12/1- 4/1) – Effective 2009
Imposed to foster less aesthetic use of fertilizers residential turf
Program assessment due 2014

8. Key Goals of Comp. Water Plan
Nitrogen should be reduced to the greatest extent
feasible and practical for the protection of current and
future drinking water supplies and the ecological
functions of streams, lakes, estuaries and marine waters.
Groundwater Nitrogen inputs in the County’s surface
waters should be reduced consistent with the goals of
the Long Island Sound Study, Peconic Estuary and South
Shore Estuary Reserve Programs, to protect, preserve and
restore the estuaries

9. Critical Conclusion
“A very basic, but essentially important policy question looms for Suffolk
County.”
“At the completion of the prior Comprehensive Plan in 1987, and for years
thereafter, Suffolk County was proud to be in the forefront nationally of
groundwater research, investigation, and protection programs.”
“In view of recent economic difficulties confronting all municipalities, will
the County of Suffolk have the ability to commit technical staff and
resources necessary to plan and implement the water protection
strategies and recommendations developed by this plan for the next
several decades.”

10. The 3 most frequently detected
VOCs:
Tetracloroethene (PCE)
Trichloroethene (TCE)
1,1,1-Trichloroethane (TCA)
Volatile Organic Chemicals
These are found in a range of products
including:
• paint strippers,
• office supplies,
• aerosols
• cleaning products

11. Volatile Organic Chemicals
VOCs used in the most common products of HHW were
found at high concentration in the Magothy Aquifer,
which is main aquifer used for drinking water.
PCE was present in 4x more wells in 2005 than in 1987.
Levels of TCE increased 150%
In 1987, 1 well exceeded drinking water standard of 5
ug/l. In 2005- 9 wells exceeded drinking water
standards.

12. VOC (PCE) were present in 4x more wells than in 1987.
Levels of TCE increased 150%
Volatile Organic Chemicals

13. Household Hazard Waste (HHW) refers to any
commonly found household items with the potential
to ignite, cause a violent chemical reaction, be a
dangerous corrosive, or be harmful to human health.
The average person accumulates 6 pounds of
household hazardous waste per year, and every year
over 100,000 tons of this waste is disposed of
improperly in New York.
Household Hazardous Wastes

14. Detected in 330 public supply
wells in SC from 2000-2005
Detected in 16% of raw
groundwater samples collected
from all supply wells.
Detected in 10% of private wells,
with 1.4% exceeded drinking
water standard of 10ppb.
MTBE

15. Long Island Pesticide Use Management Plan: A Decade Overdue
Under development since 1998, the goal
of the plan is to protect Long Island’s sole
source aquifer from pesticide
contamination.
Recently the DEC released a plant to the public
that does not take action to protect drinking
water from pesticides.
In 2000-2001, 834 private and non-community drinking water wells were tested on LI
for the frequency and co-occurrence of pesticides with other pesticides and pesticide
degradates. Results:
• pesticide related compounds were detected in 422 wells (50.6%) of the wells
• more than one pesticide related compound was found in 323 (38.7%) of the
wells
• 5-9 pesticide related compounds were detected in 127 (15.2%) of the wells
• 10 or more pesticide related compounds were detected in 4 (.5%) of the wells

16. Extensive investigations have identified 117 pesticides
in drinking water.
The Top 3 pesticides found in drinking water include:
Imidacloprid
Atrazine
Metalaxyl
Pesticides

17. The NYSDEC documents 117 pesticides in our groundwater. We need to
work to ban the top 3 most detected: Atrazine, Metalaxyl, and Imidacloprid.
Metalaxyl: Detected 1,327 times in 546
locations. Linked to kidney and liver
damage & toxic to birds
Atrazine: Detected 124 times in 51
locations. Banned in European Union in
2004 because of persistent groundwater
contamination.
Imidacloprid: Detected 890 times in 179
locations. Has been found in
concentrations as high as 407 ppb
(Standard 50ppb).

18. Detected 890 times in 179 locations.
Has been found in concentrations as high as 407 ppb
(Standard 50ppb).
Can be found in 100’s of products.
Used on lawns, turfs, golf courses, farms, pets, in
households.
Can leach quickly through soils, contaminating
groundwater
Toxic to fish and crustaceans.
Pesticides-Imidacloprid

19. Detected 1,327 times in 546 locations
Fungicide that leaches in sandy soils
Linked to kidney and liver damage
Toxic to birds
Pesticides Metalaxyl

20. Detected 124 times in 51 locations
Banned in European Union in 2004 because of
persistent groundwater contamination.
Most widely used herbicide in US, 76 million lbs
applied each year.
2009 NY Times article: potential cause of birth
defects, low birth weights, and menstrual problems
when consumed at concentrations below federal
standards.
2010 study: 75% of male frogs sterile & turned 1 in 10
male frogs to females.
Pesticides-Atrazine

21. Pharmaceutical drug contamination in our
groundwater, rivers, estuaries, and bays is an emerging issue
throughout our state, and our Nation.
41 million Americans drinking water from a source containing trace
amounts of pharmaceutical compounds.
In 2002, the United States Geological Survey (USGS) found trace
amounts of antibiotics, hormones, contraceptives and steroids in 80%
of the water they tested.
Pharmaceuticals

22. Emerging Contaminant: Pharmaceutical Drugs
In 2002, USGS and US Department of the Interior partnered
with the Suffolk County Water Authority to complete a study
on Suffolk County groundwater.
Of 70 samples collected from 61 wells in the upper glacial and
Magothy aquifers, 28 samples contained at least one PhAC
compound.
In 2002, the United States Geological Survey (USGS) found
trace amounts of antibiotics, hormones, contraceptives and
steroids in 80% of the water they tested.
Synthetic steroids, such as estrogens, are known endocrine
disruptors. Trace amounts of these compounds are known to
cause feminization, reproductive problems, and hormone
system disruption in fish.

24. What We Can Do
1. Properly dispose of pharmaceuticals at take-back
programs - don't flush!
Suffolk County Take Back Program: In the first 4
months 800 lbs of drugs collected!
Nassau County Take
Back Program
Suffolk County Law

25. Ban the top 3 pesticides on Long Island

26. STOP using toxic pesticides and fertilizers on
lawn and in gardens

27. Do not pour chemicals, oils, grease down the
drain- Use STOP days!
Stop Throwing
Out Pollutants

28. Use less hazardous products—such as
green cleaning products

29. Preserve Open Space!