Assemblyman Ed Ra (R,C,I-Franklin Square) is pleased that one of his priority bills passed both houses of the State Legislature and is heading to the governor’s desk. The legislation would protect drinking water on Long Island by limiting the amount of 1,4-dioxane in household products like shampoos, body washes and detergents. Testing has shown increasing levels in groundwater across Long Island that eclipses the national average and everywhere else in New York state.

“I’m urging the governor to sign this bill into law. I’m pleased that the governor has continually prioritized clean water funding for Long Island in his budget. However, we can’t afford to undermine that investment by allowing dangerous chemicals to infiltrate our water supply. Clean, safe drinking water is an essential requirement of public health and public safety,” said Ra.

Ra added that the legislation is a win for local taxpayers.

“The filtration process for 1,4-dioxane is complex and extremely costly. The much more affordable option for all of us is to send less of it down the drain in the first place,” said Ra.

Ra dismissed concerns from lobbyists who claim that many important products will be discontinued.

“Firms constantly reformulate their products to make them less costly to produce and more effective for consumers. They’re constantly innovating. Keeping harmful chemicals out of the water is also an excellent reason to reformulate a product,” said Ra.