A new proposal to remove harmful chemicals from some Suffolk County drinking water supplies could take six years and $75 million.
The Suffolk County Water Authority plan calls for advanced treatment systems to remove 1,4-dioxane, a contaminant used in industrial solvents and household products.
The systems would be installed at 31 sites where 1,4-dioxane levels are higher than a proposed state limit.
Adrienne Esposito with Citizens Campaign for the Environment says six years is too long to wait for safe drinking water.
“We’ve been working hard for the state to provide grants and funding and guidance to the water suppliers, and we really need them to rally and meet the challenge of filtering out these new contaminants because people do need to be protected.”
Installation of the new treatment systems can cost up to $6 million each.
Water authority officials say customers could see their water bills increase by $100 per year.
