According to several recent news reports, four water districts in Long Island – Jericho Water District, the village of Hempstead, the Town of Hempstead, and Liberty Water’s Merrick district – are currently not meeting regulations to limit the dangerous synthetic chemical dioxane, affecting around 150,000 customers. New York was actually the first state in 2020 to enforce a standard for 1,4-dioxane in drinking water. However, the presence of dioxane in 70% of Long Island’s public water wells underscores that municipalities in both Suffolk and Nassau counties haven’t yet addressed the issue with any urgency.

This situation is particularly concerning given that dioxane has been identified as a probable carcinogen by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and is commonly found in industrial solvents, household detergents, and other products​​.

What is 1,4-Dioxane and Why is it Dangerous?

1,4-Dioxane is a synthetic chemical, primarily used as a solvent and stabilizer for other solvents in various industrial applications. This colorless, flammable liquid, which has a mild sweet odor and dissolves in water at all concentrations, can also be found in some consumer products like cosmetics, detergents, and shampoos.

Health Effects

Researchers say the impact of 1,4-dioxane on human health can vary based on the amount and duration of exposure, as well as the route of exposure (ingestion, inhalation, or skin contact). Short-term exposure to this chemical can cause symptoms like dizziness, headaches, and irritation of the eyes, nose, and skin.

Cancer Risk

The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) considers 1,4-dioxane as reasonably anticipated to be a human carcinogen. Prolonged exposure to this chemical can lead to serious health issues, including damage to the liver and kidneys, and an increased risk of developing tumors and cancers in these organs.

Environmental Persistence

1,4-dioxane is known for its persistence in the environment. When it enters water sources, it does not readily break down or degrade, making it a long-lasting contaminant. This persistence can pose challenges for water treatment and remediation efforts.

How Did Dioxane Get in the Water Supply in Long Island?

Dioxane has been known to enter the environment in several ways. It can be released into the air, water, and soil, and it can evaporate like water. It can also move through soil to contaminate groundwater. When mixed with water, 1,4-dioxane does not readily break down or degrade, making it a persistent contaminant in water sources​​.

The presence of 1,4-dioxane in Long Island’s water supply is a result of longstanding industrial and agricultural practices. Long Island relies solely on its groundwater for drinking water, making it particularly susceptible to such contamination.

What Can You Do?

Research published in “Environmental Science: Water Research & Technology” reveals that reverse osmosis (RO) membranes are highly effective in removing 1,4-dioxane and other trace organic compounds, achieving rejection rates of 98% and 99% for 1,4-dioxane. A study from “Water Research” highlights the exceptional efficiency of reverse osmosis systems, especially those integrating ultrafiltration with RO, in eliminating 1,4-dioxane from water.

Simply PURE Water Filtration, Inc. offers advanced reverse osmosis systems capable of removing dioxane from water. By choosing us, you ensure that your drinking water is not just compliant with these standards, but also safe and healthy.

We understand the importance of clean drinking water and are committed to providing effective solutions to keep your family safe. Installing a Simply PURE Water Filtration, Inc. system is a proactive step towards ensuring the quality and safety of your drinking water. Get the peace of mind you need and contact us today for a free consultation about your water.

Dioxane in LI Water: What Can You Do?

About Simply PURE Water Filtration Services

Living in and serving the Long Island community, we strive to make sure everyone has access to clean, healthy water. We have the experience, knowledge, and industry-leading technology to provide clean water solutions for water impurities, contaminants, hard water, bad tasting/odors, well water, acidity & pH regulations.

Proud members of the WQA (Water Quality Association), and the EWQA (Eastern Water Quality Association), we adhere to strict guidelines and the WQA code of ethics. As a Pentair True Blue Partner and Authorized Distributor of Pentair Products, there’s nothing comparable to the performance, and efficiency of our whole house purification systems, water softeners, neutralizers, whole-house filters, and alkaline reverse osmosis systems for drinking in the convenience of your home.

NSF Water Filtration System
Pentair Water Filtration System

Our products are all NSF / ANSI certified, meeting the highest safety standards and quality performance. Providing our community with only the best experience of high quality water that’s Simply PURE from our family to yours!

Simply PURE utilizes accurate testing methods before and after system installation, as well as annual maintenance of all your water treatment equipment. Our Revolutionary Custom Built Water Treatment systems upon the completion of a Free In-Home Water Analysis, or an in-depth Comprehensive Water Analysis of your choice sent to our Certified Laboratory.

Customers Frequently Ask..

The answer to this question depends on which kind of drinking water you’re talking about. There are multiple agencies responsible for regulating water quality in the U.S., and there are some who are more critical about the way it’s handled.

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The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is in charge of overseeing the water that comes out of your tap. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) oversees and regulates the quality of bottled water.

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Individual states are responsible for regulating water that is bottled and sold within their borders. Finally, your municipality must make sure it is following federal and state standards regarding water quality.

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The EPA does not regulate private wells, and rules for testing differ from state to state. In many cases, it is the homeowner’s responsibility to make sure their well water is safe.

Certain things can affect the flavor, odor, and appearance of your tap water, not all of them are necessarily harmful.

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Many people with public water can taste the chlorine, although the most noticeable problems tend to come from private wells. Contaminants like sulfur can impact the smell, while iron will cause discoloration and staining.

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The overall amount of total dissolved solids (TDS) in your tap water will definitely affect the taste, smell, and appearance. While many of these issues are not serious concerns, they can certainly be a nuisance. Water filtration systems, including a high-efficiency water softener to reduce hardness, can provide solutions.

This process is called “reverse” osmosis because the pressure forces the water to flow in the reverse direction (from the concentrated solution to the dilute solution) to the flow direction (from the dilute to the concentrated) in the process of natural osmosis. RO removes ionized salts, colloids, and organic molecules down to a molecular weight of 100.

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You can get a whole-house RO, but more commonly, a point-of-use RO system would be on your countertop or installed under the sink. They’re great for treating water for cooking and drinking, but they don’t usually produce large amounts of treated water — more like 3 to 10 gallons a day. For that reason, typically people choose to install RO-treated faucets in the most popular areas of the home such as kitchens and bathrooms, as opposed to installing it for every drinking tap. Just like any other kind of filter technology, reverse osmosis systems require regular maintenance. That includes periodically replacing the unit’s prefilters, postfilters, and membrane modules.

Due to the media attention Flint, Michigan, received over its water crisis, a lot of people have questions about lead in public water systems around the U.S.

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Lead (as well as copper) typically enters the public supply by leaching into water from corroded fixtures and outdated plumbing. Homes built before 1986 will likely have plumbing with copper pipes using solder that may contain lead.

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Lead can cause serious negative health effects, especially in children. The challenge is that it is undetectable by human senses. You can check with your local water authority for information about lead levels, but it’s important to note that the CDC and EPA say there’s no level of lead recognized as safe for consumption.

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If you have concerns about the presence of lead in your water, you can have it tested in a state-certified laboratory. You can also read more in our article on lead in drinking water.

Softening hard water can mitigate many of its objectionable effects. Water softening can be done either at point of entry or point of use. One of the unique advantages offered by point-of-use water softening is the opportunity for homemakers to have either hard or soft water for drinking. This choice is not available if the water supply is softened municipally. Hardness minerals can be reduced in water to make it “softer” by using one of three basic means:

  • Chemical softening—lime softening, hot and cold; lime-soda softening
  • Membrane separation softening—Nano filtration
  • Cation exchange softening—inorganic, carbonaceous, or organic base exchangers
  • Softening water for home needs is done almost exclusively through the use of cation exchange.

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Customer Testimonials

"Absolutely amazing service from beginning to end. Trustworthy and reliable to work with. And the water taste!! It’s incredible the difference after we installed our water filtration system throughout our house. Also knowing my kids are drinking the purest of water is the biggest game changer. I would absolutely recommend Vinny and staff."

Randi Demetriou 

"We had a recent installation done by Vinny at Simply PURE and we couldn’t be happier. Vinny is reputable, reliable, efficient and the service is great. The water is so clean and tastes great, we don’t have to think twice about what is coming out of our faucet! Thank you Vinny!

Mike D.