BERKELEY SPRINGS, WV, Feb. 11, 2015 -- Efforts to reduce the prevalence of prescription medications in drinking water sources in Long Island, N.Y., will be showcased during an inaugural lecture at the 25th annual Berkeley Springs International Water Tasting on Friday, Feb. 20, in the town of Berkeley Springs, W.Va.
Thomas McAbee, executive director of Lloyd Magothy Water Trust, Inc. (LMWT), a New York domestic not-for-profit corporation, will deliver the inaugural Alan A. Leff Memorial Lecture, addressing his group's innovative efforts to tackle this difficult drinking water contamination issue.
The mission of the LMWT is to eliminate prescription drug contamination in the area's drinking water. Lloyd and Magothy are two freshwater aquifers that underlie Long Island. These aquifers, along with the upper glacial aquifer, supply drinking water to nearly 3 million Long Islanders.
"In Suffolk County, we have approximately 77,000 private wells, which are drilled into the shallow aquifers and 325,000 private septic systems which leach effluent into the groundwater," said McAbee. "The groundwater eventually becomes part of the aquifers."
The Alan A. Leff Memorial Lecture was established by the Drinking Water Research Foundation (DWRF) in memory and recognition of Alan A. Leff, Ph.D., who passed away in 2013 and who spent a significant portion of his career working in the water industry. Leff, born in Pittsburgh, Pa., earned his B.S in Physics from Carnegie Mellon University and a Master's and PhD in Fuel Science from the Pennsylvania State University.
"The vision for these educational presentations is to provide a forum for experts from around the globe to discuss water-related subjects," said DWRF Chairman Jack West. "For example, topics could include human hydration needs and the role water plays in cognitive performance or new technologies to manage water resources. In addition, a representative from the American Water Works Association might speak on managing municipal supplies and the challenges faced as the global population becomes more intensely urbanized."
The Alan A. Leff Memorial Lecture is part of a larger program, "Water: Beneath the Surface and Around the Globe," that will address pressing issues related to the world's water supplies. A lineup of world-class speakers will delve into the following key topics related to the world's waters, also speaking at the water tasting event.
For more information about the Alan A. Leff Memorial Lecture Fund, or to make a tax-deductible contribution to the Fund, visit the DWRF website.
See also:
"New PPP to provide advanced management, operations of NY county wastewater system"
"EPA proposes to remove majority of NY Fulton Terminals site from Superfund list"
About the Drinking Water Research Foundation
The Drinking Water Research Foundation is an independent, not-for-profit 501 (c) 3 foundation that was established in 1984 by several members of the bottled water and point of use drinking water filtration industries. For more information, visit www.thefactsaboutwater.org.
###
