Brookhaven's Drinking-Water Quality

The Lab supplies its own drinking water to all employees, facility-users, guests, residents, and visitors on site. As a federally approved drinking water supplier, BNL operates six potable-water wells, a Water Treatment Facility, and a water-distribution system, including two water towers, the smaller of which is seen by Police Headquarters and the larger of which is found on North Sixth Street.

Drawn from wells tapped into Long Island's upper glacial aquifer, the water on site is not impacted by legacy contamination, ongoing cleanup, and continued operations. Despite rumors to the contrary, BNL’s water is in full compliance with all county, state, and federal regulations for safe drinking water. For more information on the Lab’s water and supply system, read the annual BNL Water Quality Consumer Confidence Report, which is published each May.

In addition to its responsibility for the quality of the water within its supply system, the Lab is also responsible for the quality of the water coming out of the taps and water fountains on site, and for the condition of any bottled water and bottled-water coolers provided on site. Bottled water in coolers is provided in areas where there is no plumbing, or where the taps or water fountains have been disconnected because of plumbing problems that would result in non-compliant water.