Nassau Suffolk Water Commissioners’ Association take part in training series on dioxane depletion

With concerns about 1,4 Dioxane receiving enormous attention across Long Island, the Nassau Suffolk Water Commissioners’ Association — of which West Hempstead Water District Commissioner Kenneth P. Wenthen, Jr. serves as Secretary and was in attendance — welcomed Michael Levy of Greenlawn Superintendent of the Garden City Park Water District as guest speaker regarding 1,4 Dioxane issues as part of its ongoing educational training series.

During the meeting, Levy discussed implementation of a pilot program at the Garden City Park Water District to remove 1,4 Dioxane through a chemical reaction and UV light. The program utilizes Advanced Oxidation Processes to address low level 1,4 Dioxane contamination via an out-of-service well. The Environmental Protection Agency has not set a standard for 1,4 Dioxane, which is commonly used in everyday household products such as cosmetics, detergents and shampoos.

Levy explained that the AOP chemical treatment procedures are “designed to remove organic materials in water and wastewater by oxidation through reactions with hydroxyl radicals. The primary treatment mechanism involves the reaction of UV light with hydrogen peroxide or chlorine to generate highly reactive hydroxyl radicals. Testing was performed to demonstrate the effectiveness of environmentally friendly carbon UV technologies and to help facilitate a Pilot Test Plan, which, if proved successful, will be implemented across the Garden City Park Water District.”

He also discussed how Garden City Park Water District’s pre-pilot testing included overcoming power issues, establishing effective chlorine dosing, and injection point relocation for the AOP Pilot Study, which was then submitted to the Nassau County Department of Health.

“Issues surrounding 1,4 Dioxane are of great concern to the public in all our 21 member districts and beyond,” said NSWCA President Vincent Abbatiello. “Superintendent Levy’s fact-filled presentation shed light on potential avenues of action while we await information on development of a regulatory standard for 1,4 Dioxane.”

The Garden City Park Water District serves more than 18,000 people with an infrastructure that includes over 76 miles of water main, two elevated tanks and over 7,000 connections.

-Nakeem Grant