Thursday, October 1, 2026
A $10.5 billion national settlement with the multinational chemical manufacturer 3M over the widespread contamination of drinking water with PFAS — so-called “forever chemicals” — includes over $250 million for public water providers in Nassau and Suffolk counties. This hard-fought-for financial relief will help cover the staggering cost of removing toxic substances from our drinking water. But it will be payment for damage already done, not a fix for what still threatens our sole-source aquifer every day.
Long Islanders rely entirely on a single underground water source, an aquifer that provides drinking water to more than 2.8 million people. It has been under assault for decades by chemical pollutants that seep through soil, spill into drainage systems and leach from landfills and industrial sites.
Among the most dangerous threats are PFAS compounds, man-made chemicals used in everything from firefighting foam to non-stick cookware that do not break down over time and accumulate in both the environment and our bodies. Exposure to these chemicals has been linked to health problems such as decreased fertility, developmental complications in children and an increased risk of some cancers and immune system issues.
In more than a few of our communities, these pollutants have created brownfields — usually industrial or commercial sites that are abandoned, vacant or under-used, and where redevelopment or reuse is complicated by the presence or potential presence of at least one, if not more, contaminants.
The settlement is a victory for local water providers, many of whom have led the charge in holding chemical companies accountable. But it also shines a light on an uncomfortable truth: Long Island is already paying dearly for decades of environmental neglect.
Since 2017, more than $1 billion has been spent on installing and maintaining sophisticated water-treatment systems, according to federal estimates. And even with this financial award, residents and ratepayers will continue to bear the burden of ongoing operating costs.
So, while restitution is essential, it is not enough. The fight for clean water cannot begin at the filtration plant. It must begin at the source — with laws, oversight and habits that will keep our groundwater clean in the first place.
To policymakers: This is your moment to act. Strengthen oversight of chemical manufacturing, storage and disposal. Expand groundwater protection zones, especially near vulnerable recharge areas. Invest in forward-thinking, sustainable water infrastructure that protects our aquifer before contaminants reach it. Laws must reflect the seriousness of the threat, the indispensability of the resource and the fact that the water cannot be replaced.
To state and local agencies and appointed officials: It’s time to audit the regulatory framework governing industrial, agricultural and even residential activities that affect water quality. Permitting and enforcement must be rigorous. No project, permit or loophole should be allowed to jeopardize our only supply of drinking water.
Long Island residents and business owners are part of the solution. Everyday actions matter — from how you dispose of household chemicals to the fertilizers and cleaning agents you use. Learn about the long-term impact of routine habits. Information is available from a variety of sources, beginning with local and state health departments.
Support local clean-water initiatives. Vote for leaders who prioritize the environment. And above all, treat water conservation not as a suggestion, but as a shared responsibility.
This is not alarmism. It’s realism. The aquifer beneath Long Island cannot be replaced, rerouted or remade. We have no second source to draw from if it becomes too polluted or depleted. Every gallon of water pumped from below is a gallon we must protect with vigilance, policy and foresight.
Yes, the 3M settlement is a victory — but it should also be a warning. We cannot afford to celebrate a payout while the source of our water remains under threat. Financial settlements help heal wounds, but they do not prevent the next injury. That requires a cultural shift — from passive reliance to proactive stewardship.
Clean water is the foundation of our health, our economy and our communities. Long Island must now recommit — urgently, and collectively — to safeguarding the aquifer that sustains us all. Let’s make sure that in the future, headlines about our water celebrate prevention, not just compensation.
