Conclusion

Water Supply in New York City

       Our hypothesis is to find out whether New York's water should remain unfiltered as it has always been in the past, or if we should begin filtering it. Five CUNY Honors College students embarked on this journey using different methods and approaches.
       First, we looked into the past and found that throughout New York's history, disease was rampant not due to New York's water itself, but rather to the lack of epidemiological knowledge and technology to solve its external problems.
      Next, similarities and differences are evident when comparing how water has been supplied to New York City and London. Since the 1850's, London has filtered its water while New York City's water remains unfiltered.
       Third, studying phosphorous we have learned that it is a contaminant in our water supply that cannot be filtered. It must be dealt with by lowering its guidance value level and our project explores the experiments done to establish the appropriate levels.
       Fourth, by analyzing the levels of multi-cellular organisms in our reservoirs, potential danger could arise if the levels escalate. To eliminate this potential threat, the use of silver, a natural purifier, would suffice.
       Finally, although there were outbreaks in Carrollton, Georgia and Milwaukee, Wisconsin, the levels of Cryptosporidium and Giardia in New York City water is zero which is the Maximum Contaminant Level that is permitted in New York.   Therefore, the data from several testing sites around New York reveal that the presence of these parasites are well within the acceptable limits set by the EPA.
       After compiling and analyzing these topics of both past and present data, our joint conclusion was that New York's water should remain unfiltered.

Project submitted to Professor Tomkiewics and Professor Scarlatos of Brooklyn College by Jamielyn LoBello, Rachel Waltuch, Elizabeth DePasquale, Nava Sanders, and Amanda Perez.