Is our water safe?

All water districts test for certain levels of contaminants, the safe levels of which are determined by the Department of Health. No agency, however, has examined the chemicals found in our water in conjunction with one another. Therefore, the synergy of carious chemicals interacting with one another is unknown.

Is 1 in 9 worried about the possibility that contaminated water may be one of the causes of high breast cancer rates?

Yes. Less than 20 percent of new breast cancer cases are attributed to family history or more specifically genetics. Eighty percent of cases are attributed to "something else." On Long Island, where breast cancer rates are among the highest in the nation, one common factor among all women is their drinking water. Because we live over a sole source aquifer from which all our drinking water comes, each oil spill or chemical accident today and historically further contaminates our ground water. Some chemicals, such as DDT, remains in the soil for decades; others, such as TCE (tetrachloroethelene), are heavier than water and settle into space in our sandy oil.

What about "plumes" of pollution?

There are major plumes, or pathways, of pollution in Long Island aquifer. Ten have been identified in Nassau County, all in industrial or formerly industrial areas. One a plume is in the ground; it travels the amount of rainfall affects how rapidly it travels, and in some cases, in which direction. To predict the possible direction of the plume and better advise water districts, Nassau County's Department of Public Works has drilled test wells.

What contaminants are found in our plumes?

Pesticides, TCEs from dry cleaning and metal-finishing processes metals (cadmium, zinc) and volatile organic compounds, such as gasoline and oil, have been found.

How are plumes of contaminated water treated?

- Air stripping towers can help a water district get rid of volatile contaminants such as gasoline, but TCE is a stubborn chemical compound which takes decades of treatments to eliminate.
- Carbon Filtration takes out heavy metals.
- Chlorine additives kill bacteria from sewage that leaks into the water system.

What can I do?

Individuals and groups can do a lot to guard their water supply. For instance, when a group of breast cancer activists began to suspect that stagnant water may be more likely to contain contaminants that water in a circular system, they formulated a survey that included questions about the water's distribution system in areas with high breast cancer rates. They wanted to know if water that came into a dead-end street had less circulation and therefore more contaminants. These community surveys are still in progress.

In addition, 1 in 9: The Long Island Breast Cancer Action Coalition fought for and succeeded in the passing of the Pesticide Reporting Bill in New York State. Individuals can educate themselves about the proper way to dispose of common waste products and utilize programs such as STOP. All water-purification treatments are expensive. The best means of keeping our water pure is to prevent pollution in the first place!

1 in 9: The Long Island Breast Cancer Action Coalition makes no representation as to, and cannot vouch for, the accuracy or statistical significance of these source.

The information above was compiled from the following sources:

Ground Water Contamination and Clean-up in Central Nassau County

NYS DEC

And Dvirka and Bartilucci, 1995