The Nassau County Legislature has allocated $1.55 million in American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funding toward efforts by water suppliers to remove emerging contaminants and toxins from our drinking water. This funding will be drawn from $6 million in federal funding already dedicated to support an array of water quality initiatives, and each eligible public and private water supplier will receive a $50,000 grant in support of their efforts.

In pursuit of these priorities, water districts can apply the funding toward conducting studies; planning and design remediation initiatives; purchasing equipment, materials, and supplies; developing operations manuals, guidelines, and materials; maintaining removal systems that are already online; and defraying the cost of lab testing. The Nassau County Department of Public Works will oversee the administration and implementation of these projects.

These funds will equip water districts to continue their efforts to combat emerging contaminants such as 1, 4-Dioxane and PFOs/PFOAs (perfluorooctanoic acid), which have been found in the aquifers that provide Long Island with all of its drinking water.

Contact your local water district to learn more about these ongoing efforts to preserve and protect our drinking water.