IMPORTANT INFORMATION ABOUT YOUR DRINKING WATER
Deferral Issued for 1,4-Dioxane in the Franklin Square Water District
Why are you receiving this notice/information?
You are receiving this notice because testing of our public water system found the chemical 1,4-Dioxane in your drinking water above New York State’s maximum contaminant level (MCL) of 1 ppb for 1,4-dioxane. 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.
The Franklin Square Water District has submitted, and the New York State Department of Health (Department) has issued, a deferral to the Franklin Square Water District. When a public water system is issued a deferral, the water system agrees to a schedule for corrective action and compliance with the new MCLs. In exchange, the Department agrees to defer enforcement actions, such as assessing fines, if the water system is meeting the established deadlines. We are required to update the Department and the Nassau County Department of Health each calendar quarter on the status of our projects. If we do not meet the agreed upon deadlines, the Department can resume enforcement.
Please note that Well No. 5 has been tested to exceed the 1.0 ppb MCL. The District has removed Well No. 5 from service and it will not be used until such time a treatment system is constructed to remove the chemical.
What are the health effects of 1,4-dioxane?
Laboratory studies show that 1,4-dioxane caused liver cancer in animals exposed at high levels throughout their lifetime. Other types of cancer have also been reported, although less consistently than liver cancer. There is no evidence of 1,4-dioxane cancer effects in humans. The United States Environmental Protection Agency considers 1,4-dioxane a likely human carcinogen based upon studies of animals exposed to high levels of this chemical over their entire lifetimes.
At the level of 1,4-dioxane detected in your water, exposure from drinking water and food preparation is well below 1,4-dioxane exposures associated with health effects.
What is New York State doing about 1,4-Dioxane in public drinking water?
The New York State Department of Health (NYS DOH) has adopted a drinking water regulation that requires all public water systems to test for 1,4-dioxane. If found above the MCLs, the water supplier must take steps to lower the level to meet the standard. Exceedances of the MCL signal that steps should be taken by the water system to reduce contaminant levels.
What is being done to remove these contaminants?
The Franklin Square Water District is continuing to implement an aggressive action plan which includes the construction of advanced oxidation process (AOP) facilities for the removal of 1,4-Dioxane. It should be noted that only one of our wells (Well No. 5) was tested to exceed the MCL of 1.0 ppb. Well No. 5 is currently out of service. We expect the system to be completed and placed into service by the end of the year. The Water District will continue to maximize use of unaffected wells. Additional information will be shared as further testing and progress occurs. This process is similar for any chemical detected in public drinking water that requires mitigation. The compliance timetable will ensure that your drinking water will meet the MCL as rapidly as possible. The deferral is effective until December 25, 2022.
Where can I get more information?
For more information, please contact the Franklin Square Water District at (516) 354-0780 or PO Box 177, Franklin Square, NY 11010. You can also contact the Nassau County Department of Health at (516) 227-9692.
If you have additional questions about these contaminants and your health, talk to your health care provider who is most familiar with your health history and can provide advice and assistance about understanding how drinking water may affect your personal health.
Public Water System ID# NY29002822
Date June 15, 2022