According to a New York Public Interest Research Group analysis of EPA data, Long Island has the most contaminted drinking water in the state.

NYPIRG’s Environmental Policy Director Liz Moran says Long Island’s drinking water contains high levels of harmful contaminants like 1,4-dioxane, PFOS and PFOA. Almost 16 million people drink from the contaminated water.

“The most systems with detections were located on Long Island, and Long Island also had more detections of these contaminants overall compared to the rest of the state.”

She says New York State needs to set strict drinking water standards.

“Exposure to 1,4-dioxane, for example, has been linked with liver cancer and chronic kidney and liver impacts – and that’s just 1,4 dioxane. PFOA and PFOS have been linked to six different diseases.”

Federal law only requires testing in communities of 10,000 residents or more.

NYPIRG found that New York City drinking water is the least contaminated.