All Treated Water Now in Full Compliance With EPA Standards
In a major public health milestone, the Suffolk County Water Authority (SCWA) announced it has achieved full compliance with federal drinking water standards for toxic PFAS chemicals—six years ahead of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s 2031 deadline.
Despite widespread contamination across Long Island’s aquifer, SCWA’s most recent testing in April 2025 confirmed that no treated water in its system contains PFOA or PFOS—the two most concerning PFAS compounds—above the federal limit of 4 parts per trillion (PPT), authority officials noted. The standard, finalized by the EPA in April 2024, is considered among the most stringent in the nation.
“This is a historic achievement,” said SCWA Chairman Charles Lefkowitz. “Given the extent of PFAS detections across Long Island and the size of our system, this result shows that with the right investment and urgency, we can stay ahead of emerging threats to public health.”
PFAS, or per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances, are synthetic chemicals found in everything from non-stick pans to firefighting foam. Because they don’t break down easily, they’ve accumulated in soil and groundwater, including Long Island’s drinking water supply. Long-term exposure to PFOA and PFOS has been linked to cancer, developmental problems, and hormonal disruption.
To meet the new EPA standards ahead of schedule, SCWA installed 17 granular activated carbon (GAC) treatment systems over the past year. These advanced filters remove PFAS by binding the chemicals to specially prepared carbon. According to SCWA, testing shows that these systems reduce PFAS levels to non-detectable.
“This didn’t happen overnight,” said SCWA CEO Jeff Szabo. “We’ve been working for years to build a treatment program that protects our customers and anticipates regulatory changes. The fact that we’re already in compliance—years ahead of the federal deadline—speaks to the expertise of our team.”
SCWA officials say their work isn’t done. The authority continues to monitor water quality closely and will immediately shut down any well exceeding the 4 PPT limit if treatment isn’t already installed. The long-term goal: eliminate PFAS entirely from the water supply.
“This is about protecting public health,” said Suffolk County Executive Ed Romaine at a Holtsville press conference announcing the milestone. “I want to thank the Suffolk County Water Authority for acting early and doing what’s necessary to provide residents with some of the cleanest drinking water in the country.”
The Presiding Officer of the Suffolk Legislature, Kevin J. McCaffrey, echoed the sentiment: “The leadership of the Suffolk County Water Authority has again shown its commitment to protecting the public, and in this case has exceeded expectations set by the federal government.”
Environmental advocates also applauded the early action. “PFAS contamination is a serious threat that demands action,” said Adrienne Esposito, Executive Director of Citizens Campaign for the Environment. “I’m grateful to the Suffolk County Water Authority for taking steps to remove these toxic chemicals. Meeting the federal standards well ahead of schedule is a positive step forward in safeguarding Suffolk’s residents.”
SCWA’s accelerated work was supported in part by $16 million in grant funding from New York State, which helped offset the cost of installing the GAC systems while keeping water rates among the lowest in the state.
“This is one of the largest and most complex groundwater systems in the country,” Lefkowitz added. “We’ve proven that even in a region with serious PFAS challenges, we can deliver water that meets the highest health standards.”