Long Island’s communities relying on both municipal systems and private wells face persistent contamination challenges. The island’s porous soils and aquifer-based water supply make it especially vulnerable. Here are five of the most concerning pollutants:

1. PFAS (PFOA and PFOS)

PFAS, often called “forever chemicals,” are highly durable and resistant to breaking down in the environment. These man-made chemicals are used in products such as nonstick cookware, firefighting foam, and water-resistant clothing. These chemicals enter Long Island’s groundwater through industrial sites and consumer product disposal, making them a widespread and persistent problem. PFAS was found to be 2.5 times above EWG’s Health Guideline. PFAS exposure has been linked to immune system dysfunction, developmental issues, and increased risks of cancer. 

2. Iron (EPA Secondary MCL – 0.3 ppm)

Iron is naturally present due to Long Island’s geology, leaching from soil and bedrock into groundwater. Excess iron causes rust-colored water, staining, metallic taste, and clogging issues.  At levels above the EPA’s Secondary Maximum Contaminant Level (SMCL) of 0.3 parts per million (ppm), residents may notice:

  • Rust-colored or yellowish water, which can stain sinks, tubs, toilets, and laundry.
  • A strong metallic taste that makes tap water unpleasant for drinking and cooking.
  • Clogging of pipes and appliances as iron precipitates out of solution, reducing plumbing efficiency and shortening the lifespan of fixtures, dishwashers, and washing machines.
  • A “slimy” buildup in toilets and pipes caused by iron bacteria, which thrive on iron deposits in groundwater systems.

Both municipal and private well users face iron contamination on Long Island. For homeowners, advanced filtration methods such as reverse osmosis (RO) can help address iron contamination, ensuring clear, clean, and better-tasting water.

3. Hexavalent Chromium

Hexavalent chromium (often referred to as “chromium-6”) is a highly toxic and carcinogenic form of chromium. According to the Environmental Working Group (EWG), chromium-6 contaminates the tap water of over 250 million Americans across every U.S. state and territory.

The chemical poses serious health risks. Chronic ingestion has been linked to liver and reproductive damage, impaired development in offspring, and is strongly associated with gastrointestinal cancers. Certain populations, particularly infants, children, those with liver issues, or individuals taking antacids, are especially vulnerable.

Despite these known dangers, the U.S. EPA has not yet established a federal legal limit for chromium-6. As for Long Island, data from the EWG database reveals troubling levels of chromium-6 with the Hicksville Water District water supply measuring 0.476 ppb of hexavalent chromium.

4. Chlorine and Disinfection By-Products (DBPs)

Disinfectants like chlorine are essential for eliminating pathogens in water supplies, but their interaction with organic matter produces harmful byproducts, including trihalomethanes (THMs). These byproducts are linked to cancer and other health issues. Alarmingly, levels of TTHMs in some Long Island water systems exceed health guidelines by more than 34 times.

5. VOC Contaminants – PCE/TCE from the Bethpage Plume

Volatile organic compounds (VOCs) such as TCE (trichloroethylene) and PCE (tetrachloroethylene) are legacy industrial solvents traced to the Northrop Grumman operations in Bethpage. The resulting Bethpage Plume spans over 6 square miles and delves nearly 900 feet underground, slowly migrating through the aquifer at about 1 foot per day.

Protecting Yourself with Simply PURE

The presence of these contaminants in Long Island’s water supply highlights the need for advanced water filtration systems. Reverse osmosis (RO) filtration is one of the most effective methods for removing contaminants At Simply PURE, we offer customized water purification solutions designed to address Long Island’s specific water quality challenges. Our systems ensure clean, safe water for drinking, cooking, and everyday use, giving you peace of mind.

Want to learn more? Contact us at Simply PURE Water Filtration to get your water analyzed, and find out more about what’s in your water!

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The Five Worst Contaminants Threatening Both Private & Municipal Water on Long Island

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.