The City of Glen Cove has received $5 million in state funding to improve the city’s water infrastructure and further protect residents from contaminants in the drinking water supply. This new funding will allow Glen Cove to construct a state-of-the-art granular activated carbon (GAC) treatment system at the Nancy Court Drinking Water Well Station, which will target hazardous PFAS chemicals and other contaminants that pose serious health risks.
“This $5 million is essential for ensuring Glen Cove’s water supply is safe and reliable,” said Nassau County Legislator Delia DeRiggi-Whitton (D-Glen Cove), who helped secure the funding. “The new treatment system will allow us to eliminate harmful chemicals from our drinking water, which is critical to protecting the health and well-being of our residents, especially as our community continues to grow.”
DeRiggi-Whitton extended her gratitude to Governor Kathy Hochul and Assemblyman Charles Lavine (D-Glen Cove) for their leadership in securing this critical funding. “I want to thank Governor Hochul and Assemblyman Lavine for their commitment to Glen Cove and their bipartisan focus on public health and safety,” she said. “Their partnership and attention to our needs have made all the difference in moving this project forward, and I am grateful for their leadership.”
This $5 million grant builds on the $3 million awarded to Glen Cove by the state in August, a funding victory that DeRiggi-Whitton also supported. The August funding was specifically used to update water treatment systems to filter out Freon 22, a refrigerant and hazardous contaminant that has been found in the city’s water supply. Freon 22, or R-22, is a synthetic refrigerant that poses significant environmental and health risks, as it is linked to ozone depletion and can have toxic effects on human health if ingested over time.
“The initial $3 million we received in August enabled us to address urgent water safety concerns by filtering out Freon 22, which posed a risk to our community’s health,” DeRiggi-Whitton explained. “Now, with this additional $5 million, we can install a comprehensive treatment system that not only addresses Freon 22 but also adds an extra layer of protection against other harmful contaminants.”
DeRiggi-Whitton emphasized that clean drinking water is a basic need that all communities should have access to, adding, “With the support of our state leaders, Glen Cove is able to meet high water safety standards and protect our residents. I will continue working with officials at every level to ensure that Glen Cove remains a healthy, vibrant place to live.”