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City environmental officials said Thursday that the water is safe to drink in southeast Queens despite the discovery of elevated levels of a chemical usually used in dry cleaning.
The Department of Environmental Protection says low levels of tetrachloroethylene, commonly known as PERC, were found during the agency's water sampling program.
The chemical normally found in auto repair shops and drycleaners turned up in the water supply a week ago. Since then, the DEP has been flushing pipes and testing water samples to track down where the chemical is coming from.
"We think the source of it might be a dry cleaner or auto body shop that uses PERC and a small amount of it might be flowing back into the water system and contaminating it,” said Anne Canty of the DEP. "The businesses have something that's called a backflow preventer, and in this case it may not be working."
The DEP says the levels detected are very low and do not pose a health threat. Officials say water in the area is safe to drink, but they are advising anyone with concerns to use bottled water until the source of the contamination is discovered. They also say that boiling water will not remove the chemical.
Residents found notices on their doorsteps and mailboxes Wednesday telling them about the problem.
"I'm not going to drink it. I'm going to buy my water, as usual I do when I cook everything. I buy my water and I sterilize it,” said Queens Village resident Gloria Pew. “But you have to take precautions, you know. I won't use it right now."
Tens of thousands of homes are in the affected area, in Saint Albans, Cambria Heights and Hollis - with an area bounded by Linden Boulevard on the south, Cross Island Parkway on the east, Farmers Blvd on the west, and Hempstead Avenue to Jamaica Avenue on the north.
DEP has set up a resource center on Springfield Boulevard between 110th and 112th Avenues to answer any questions, or those with concerns can log on to www.nyc.gov/dep for more information.
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