Building 134
P.O. Box 5000
Upton, NY 11973-5000
phone 631 344-2345
fax 631 344-3368
www.bnl.gov

managed for the U.S. Department of Energy
by Brookhaven Science Associates, a company
founded by Stony Brook University and Battelle

News Release

Number: 04-83
Released: August 26,  2004
Contact: Diane Greenberg, 631 344-2347 or Mona S. Rowe, 631 344-5056
Writer: Marsha Belford

Citizens Campaign for the Environment Gives an A+
To Brookhaven Lab’s Annual Water Quality Report

UPTON, NY -- The independent Citizens Campaign for the Environment (CCE) has, for the second time, assigned the grade of A+ to the annual Water Quality Consumer Confidence Report issued by Brookhaven National Laboratory, the U.S. Department of Energy research facility located in Suffolk County, Long Island. Brookhaven Lab operates a drinking-water supply system as the only source of potable water for its population of approximately 2,900 employees and 4,000 annual visiting scientists and students. Photo of Brookhaven Labs water tower

Brookhaven Labs one million gallon water storage tower as viewed from its base.

CCE evaluated 78 reports issued in 2004 by New York State drinking-water suppliers, including Long Island suppliers, which describe water quality at their facilities for the previous year. Grades ranged from A+ to F, and only seven reports, including Brookhaven Lab’s, received the highest mark. Of the A+ to C+ grades assigned to 15 reports issued in 2004 by Long Island drinking-water suppliers, Brookhaven Lab’s A+ was one of only three “outstanding” grades given by CCE. The 15 Nassau and Suffolk County reports reviewed by CCE averaged a little better than a grade of B. In 2001, the last time the CCE evaluated Brookhaven Lab’s consumer confidence report, the CCE also awarded an A+ to the Laboratory’s annual water-quality summary.

“The Citizens Campaign for the Environment has very high standards for the annual drinking-water quality consumer confidence reports, so Brookhaven Lab is very proud to have again received an A+,” says the Laboratory’s Deputy Director for Operations, Michael Bebon.

According to CCE, the highest grades, such as the A+ awarded Brookhaven Lab’s report, were given to water suppliers who were most effective in communicating legally required and other important water-quality information in an easy-to-read format. The CCE based its grades on an evaluation of between 17 and 23 key components, including completeness of the information disclosed, clarity of definitions, readability and report layout.

Under the federal Safe Drinking Water Act, drinking-water suppliers such as Brookhaven Lab are required to produce an annual report to inform consumers about their water’s quality. Consumer confidence reports are expected to contain information about where the water comes from, what analytical tests are conducted to ensure its safety, what those tests reveal about the water, and how those results compare to regulatory standards. Reports on the previous year’s water quality are to be published by the end of each May.

The CCE’s full evaluation of water-quality consumer confidence reports is described in its document entitled “Annual Water Supply Statement Reports: A Report Card for the 2003 New York State Annual Water Supply Statements,” which is available from CCE at (516) 390-7150 or at www.citizenscampaign.org/report'card'2003.htm . Citizens Campaign for the Environment is an 80,000-member, not-for-profit, non-partisan advocacy organization working for the protection of public health and the natural environment.

Brookhaven Lab’s 2004 Water Quality Consumer Confidence Report is available on the Web at www.bnl.gov/bnlweb/pubaf/bulletin.html , or by calling (631) 344-2345.

One of the ten national laboratories overseen and primarily funded by the Office of Science of the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE), Brookhaven National Laboratory conducts research in the physical, biomedical, and environmental sciences, as well as in energy technologies and national security. Brookhaven Lab also builds and operates major scientific facilities available to university, industry and government researchers. Brookhaven is operated and managed for DOE’s Office of Science by Brookhaven Science Associates, a limited-liability company founded by Stony Brook University, the largest academic user of Laboratory facilities, and Battelle, a nonprofit, applied science and technology organization.