Stephanie Heath
New York is known for many things, but cleanliness is not always one of them. However, their water is surprisingly clean. In fact, a recent test was conducted proving just how clean New York City’s water truly is.
Videos by Rare
The Details: The NY Post shares that “The H2O coming through New York City’s pipes is so clean, in fact, that NYC is one of the only major US cities that doesn’t use filtration.” Rather than just relying on that fact, they were given the opportunity to prove their level of cleanliness.
- Culligan offered the NY Post a chance to test out the water with an at-home testing kit.
- These kits look for contaminants like “lead, copper, and arsenic, as well as ‘forever chemicals’.”
How Clean Is New York City’s Water, Really?
The water sample collected from an apartment in NYC was tested for two things: contaminants and PFAS, also known as forever chemicals. These chemicals have been linked to various health issues, including an increased risk of cancer.
The results yielded both promising and concerning information. The concerning information was that New York City’s water is not chemical-free. The NY Post reported that the water sample collected contained PFBA, or Perfluorobutanoic acid.
- It was a “2.2 parts per trillion,” which is higher than the Environmental Working Group’s health guidelines.
Cleaner Than You Think: Despite this finding, the at-home water testing kit proved that New York City’s water is cleaner than you think. Although that one result came back unfavorable, the Culligan test had tested for 55 PFAS compounds. One out of 55 is not bad odds at all.
Additionally, the levels that came back were considered very low. Meaning, it is something the homeowner should address if they are uncomfortable with their newfound knowledge. Given the knowledge that forever chemicals have health implications, experts advise taking care of them.
However, all things considered, these levels were much lower than anticipated. Additionally, experts remind people that the tests only capture a single moment in time. The quality of your water, as well as the substances it contains, can vary throughout the year.
Overall, it would appear that New York City does a great job at keeping its water clean.
