NYS Center for Clean Water Technology

FAQs

The NYS Center for Clean Water Technology was developed to marshal the public and private-sector resources of New York State and beyond to develop and commercialize water quality restoration and protection technologies. Though this effort began with developing next generation approaches for handling household wastewater that are more efficient at removing nitrogen and other contaminants, less expensive, easier to operate, and smaller in size, we have since expanded to drinking water research and beyond. While our focus is on solving the water quality issues on Long Island, the solutions developed by the Center will be applicable to other parts of the United States and globally.  

 On Long Island, as in many other developed areas that rely on individual onsite wastewater management, the nitrogen/nutrient-laden effluent that emanates from these systems has been linked directly to the degradation of ground and surface water quality, and to the proliferation of Harmful Algal Blooms (HABs) like the red, brown and rust tides that have caused devastation of once bountiful marine populations and habitats. Nitrogren adversely affects coastal resiliency, environment, economy, land values, tourism, and recreational use of waters. In addition, the loss of wetland, seagrass and salt-marsh caused by nitrogen greatly decrease the tidal wetlands ability to protect communities from storm damage. 

A Nitrogen Removing Biofilter is a form of passive wastewater treatment, which means they contain few moving parts (e.g., a single low pressure dosing pump) and operate largely by gravity, making them low-energy, low-maintenance and thus, low cost. These systems have demonstrated an ability to consistently achieve high percentages of total nitrogen removal (up to 90%), as well as efficient attenuation of pathogens, viruses, phosphorous, and PPCPs.

PPCP stands for  Pharmaceuticals and  Personal  Care  Products.  Current  individual onsite wastewater systems, while effective at protecting people and animals from the pathogens present in wastewater, are not designed to remove nutrients, pharmaceuticals, or other personal care products that pass through them. Examples of PPCPs  include items such as DEET, Bisphenol A, Nicotine, Acetaminophen, Caffeine, Ibuprofen, Warfarin, Acesulfame K, Cotinine, Paraxanthine, DEET, Chlofibric Acid, Primidone, Naproxen, Carbamezapine, Salbutamol (Albuterol), Gemfibrozil, Cimetidine, Sulfamethoxazole, Ketoprofen, Diphenhydramine, Propranolol, Atenolol, Metoprolol, TCEP, Trimethoprim, Diclofenac, Warfarin, Fluoxetine, Ranitidine, Furosemide, Ciprofloxacin, Nifedipine, Fenofibrate, Amoxicillin, Diltiazem, Atorvastatin, Azithromycin, Furosemide, Estrone, β-Estradiol, 17α-Ethynylestradiol, and Nonylphenol. 

1,4-Dioxane is a synthetic industrial chemical used as a solvent stabilizer and purifying agent. It is also a byproduct in the manufacturing of polyethylene terephthalate (PET) plastic and is present in many household (paint strippers, dyes, and greases) and consumer products (deodorants, shampoos, and cosmetics). Short-term exposure to 1,4-dioxane may cause eye, nose and throat irritation, whereas long-term exposure may lead to kidney and liver damage. The United States Environmental Protection Agency (U.S. EPA) has classified 1,4-dioxane as a likely carcinogen by all routes of exposure. The U.S. EPA’s risk assessment indicates that the drinking water concentration representing one-in-a-million-cancer risk level for 1,4-dioxane is 0.35 part-per-billion (ppb) (assuming a 70-kg adult who consumes 2-L of water a day at that level for life). It is a widespread drinking water contaminant and is not efficiently removed by conventional water treatment methods such carbon filtration and air-stripping.

Per- and poly fluoro alkyl substances (PFAS) are a large group of man-made chemicals that are widely used in commercial products for more than 60 years. PFAS can resist heat, oil, stains, grease and water, and are used as coatings on clothing, carpets, furnishing, non-stick cookware, take-out fast food containers, and in fire-fighting foam. PFAS are highly persistent in the environment and have been associated with reproductive toxicity, reduced growth metrics in newborns, immunotoxicity and elevated cholesterol levels in humans. They are also associated with cancer. They are a widespread drinking water contaminant across the U.S.   

There are NO federal regulations for 1,4-dioxane and PFAS in drinking water. Several states have established their own drinking water and groundwater guidelines/action levels for 1,4-dioxane and PFAS. In New York State, the proposed drinking water standard for 1,4-dioxane is 1 ppb (part-per-billion) and for two PFAS (PFOA and PFOS) is 10 ppt (parts-per-trillion).

Long Island is an EPA-designated sole-source aquifer. According to the EPA’s definition, an aquifer is a sole-source aquifer if (1) the aquifer supplies at least 50 percent water to its service area and (2) there are no reasonably available alternative drinking water sources if the water becomes contaminated.

You can help to keep unused pharmaceuticals out of the water supply by paying attention to how you dispose of unused medications. There is no way to completely eliminate the use of pharmaceuticals and personal care products; however when you do use them follow directions and use them sparingly to reduce the amount that goes unused and eventually ends up in the environment. Do not flush prescription drugs down the toilet or drain unless the label or accompanying patient information specifically instructs you to do so. Make a donation today to help support the research efforts of the Center and develop a solution to the region's water quality concerns.