Serving Port Washington, Manorhaven, Flower Hill, Baxter Estates, Port Washington North and Sands Point
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Friday, May 3, 2019
Vol. 4, No. 18
Port WashingtonTimes GUIDE TO SCHOOL CANDIDATES CURRAN PRESSES TAXPAYER PORT WASHINGTON TALK BUDGET PROTECTION PLAN PAGES S1-S80
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1 well is over recommended dioxane level
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RAISING THE BAR
District says overall drinking water supply meets safety standards BY J E S S I C A PA R K S The Port Washington Water District listed 1.9 parts per billion as the highest detected level for 1,4-dioxane contamination in its 2018 Water Quality Report released last Wednesday. A maximum contamination level of 1 part per billion was recommended by the state Drinking Water Quality Council in December, but no federal or state regulation has been set. The contamination level of 1.9 parts per billion was the highest level found in any of the district’s wells and is a result of testing the well directly. Port’s drinking water is produced from a blend of Port’s wells to supply water that is less than 1 part per billion, according to Superintendent Paul Granger. Due to the lack of regulation, the water district follows a state guideline to not exceed 35 parts per billion for 1,4-dioxane that is nonenforceable but based on cur-
rent health information. The Environmental Protection Agency classifies 1,4-dioxane as “likely to be carcinogenic to humans” through all routes of exposure. Animal studies resulted in increased tumors in the gall bladder, liver and nasal cavity after exposure to the contaminant, according to the federal agency. Granger said he believes the contaminant represents a minimal risk and one would need to be exposed chronically for a long period, but the district is taking a conservative approach and working to control and minimize exposure. The contaminant entered the environment through its use as a solvent and in textile processing, printing processes and detergent preparations, the water district’s report said. A field study to treat 1,4-dioxane in the district’s three wells in Christopher Morley Park in Roslyn is expected to begin in the summer Continued on Page 62
PHOTO BY JESSICA PARKS
State Sen. Anna Kaplan (D-Great Neck) awarded Spectrum Designs Foundation and the Nicholas Center the Senate Empire Award. See story on page 3.
Steele, ex-Manorhaven deputy mayor, dies at 71 BY J ES S I C A PA R K S Lucretia Steele, the former deputy mayor of Manorhaven and a community advocate, died of ovarian cancer on April
17. She was 71 years old. Steele served in the Manorhaven village government from 2011 to 2015, as a trustee from 2011 to 2013 and the latter years as deputy mayor.
While on the board, she was a member of the Manorhaven Revival Party along with her fellow trustee at the time, Dorit Zeevi-Farrington. The party held a majority on the Board of Continued on Page 63
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