Long Island has had a water quality problem for decades. Unlike the beautiful Catskills water that New York City uses, Long Island’s drinking water comes from an underground aquifer. VOCs, a class of chemicals, are the most prevalent groundwater contaminant on Long Island (volatile organic compounds). They are typically regarded as hazardous compounds. It can cause many problems since the water on Long Island is more vulnerable to chemicals called PFAS (per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances. PFAS are extremely dangerous compounds that are permanently present in waterproofing, firefighting, and nonstick goods. They accumulate in our bodies over thousands of years and take a very long time to degrade. Ingesting too much of the chemical can cause cancers, immunity, fertility, and academic difficulties since it has all been linked to exposure. Any solutions would be difficult to execute since Long Islanders use their water above ground, so any land activity has the potential to contaminate the groundwater below.

In researching this topic, I plan to utilize local news sites, published city documents regarding this topic. I planned to join social media groups and talk to organizations and activists such as the North Shore Land Alliance and Long Island Clean Water Partnership to get more information on their impact on the community. I also planned to interview local residents to see if they are aware of this ongoing issue and what are their reactions.