Water at issue in the Environmental Impact Statement

Public Water Quality

2007 Suffolk County Water Authority Annual Water Quality Statement for Calender Year 2006

Substance - Maximum Contaminant Level (MCL)
Notes

Nitrate - 10 mg/l

Fertilizer use; leachate from septic tanks, sewage; erosion of natural deposits
Nitrate in drinking water at levels above 10 ppm can be a health risk for infants of less than six months of age. High nitrate levels in drinking water can cause blue babysyndrome.
- If your water contains nitrate above 5 ppm (half of the current MCL) but below 10 ppm, and you are caring for an infant under the age of six months, you should ask for advice from your health care provider.

Value	Low	Average	High
Orient	0.22	5.13	12.75
Southold	ND	4.21	8.28
Cutchogue	ND	3.35	5.71

Sodium

- Water containing more than 20 mg/l of sodium should not be used for drinking by people on severely restricted sodium diets. - Water containing more than 270 mg/l of sodium should not be used for drinking by people on moderately restricted sodium diets.

Value	Low	Average	High
Orient	34.9	44.7	58.1
Southold	6.3	33.8	96.1
Cutchogue	9.9	13.0	19.1

Chloride - 250 mg/l

Naturally occurring, slight salt water intrusion.

Value mg/l	Low	Average	High
Orient	ND	6.2	36.1
Southold	7.5	38.9	123.7
Cutchogue	13.7	20.3	45.1

Chlorine residual, free - 4 mg/l

Byproduct of drinking water chlorination.
Value presented represents the Maximum Residual Disinfectant Level (MRDL) which is a level of disinfectant added for water treatment that may not be exceeded at the consumer’s tap without an unacceptable possibility of adverse health effects. This MCL became effective Jan. 1, 2004

Value mg/l	Low	Average	High
Orient	0.2	0.6	1.1
Southold	0.1	0.5	1.5
Cutchogue	0.1	0.6	1.2

The above is all excerpted from the
2007 Suffolk County Water Authority Annual Water Quality Statement for Calendar Year 2006

The values reported for chloride and chlorine are not bad. But the more fresh water is pumped out the more salt water is likely to seep into the fresh water. And the presence of even small amounts of chlorine may makes some pharmaceuticals more toxic.

Recently information has been made public revealing that drugs — including antibiotics, anti-convulsants, mood stabilizers and sex hormones — have been found in the drinking water supplies of at least 41 million Americans. Unconfirmed reports indicate that Stephen M. Jones, Chief Executive Officer of SCWA has expressed concern about senior developments sited near SCWA wells.

For more information see *.* Occurrence of Pharmaceuticals in Shallow Ground Water of Suffolk County

And see *.* Associated Press -- No Standards to Test for Drugs in Water

Also see *.* Traces of Sedatives in NYC Water

Email Neighbors@SaveCutchogue.com

Visit www.SaveCutchogue.com