Contaminants Found In Port Washington Water, But Is Safe: PWWD

The Port Washington Water District found contaminants in its drinking water, but officials said it is safe to drink.

The contaminants found were below state requirements, officials said in the report.

"We have learned through our testing that some contaminants have been detected; however, these contaminants were detected below New YorkState requirements,"the report said. "Although nitrate was detected at the MCL of 10 mg/L, the nitrate result was from a raw water sample taken from a well which has nitrate removal treatment. This treatment removes/reduces the nitrate present prior to placing the treated water into the distribution system."

The district's annual report shows results from more than 13,000 tests conducted in 2018. According to the report, water officials tested more than 140 concerns, with results finding small amounts of 1,4-dioxane, radium, copper and lead in drinking water.

"Contamination of the groundwater from Port Washington Water District has been detected in samples from some wells. All groundwater pumped to the distribution system from the operating District wells complies with New York

State Department of Health Standards for public drinking water supplies. It should be noted that all drinking water, including bottled drinking water, may reasonably be expected to contain at least small amounts of some contaminants," the report said. " The presence of contaminants does not necessarily indicate that water poses a health risk."