NYC’s Drinking Water is Now Toxic… Why?

Recently its come to light that drinking water in several NYC schools contains abnormal levels of lead. On top of that 1 out of every 5 new yorkers drinks water delivered to their apartment by lead pipes.

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[PLuMUK]

This is not just a problem in NYC. I live in a 100 year old house in England which had lead pipes. Thankfully, the whole area had them removed in the 1960s. However, 3 years ago my friend bought a house in a village that is about 70 years old, and it had lead pipes everywhere. Luckily, he was stripping it right back to bare brick, otherwise, he would have had rather a large and unexpected bill. It made me wonder how many other houses in the village still have their lead pipes.

[-Katastrophe]

Imagine paying 5 grand or more a month for rent and your studio apartment is in a building that has lead pipes.

[Emmy-J]

Its a disgrace what we have done to our water on this planet

[fluffypuff]

See, the waterway pipes in the US are made of lead. At the time, it was the cheapest metal to make it out of. But then they found out lead was deadly. But instead of replacing the pipes, they just used a compound coating to protect the water from the pipes. But uh… over time it started dissolving. What happens? Remember Flint Michigan? That.

[ghettosapien]

When I grew up in NYC, the drinking water was considered the best in the country. But we always knew the water surrounding NYC was hot garbage. You fished off Sheepshead Bay at your own risk. 😅

[jamesleung]

Based on all the published monitoring tests, New York City has great tap water. Most of the lead is from the aging pipes in the buildings which will eventually need to be replaced. Remember, water that is too pure is also not good for you. Most systems that use reverse osmosis (90%-99% purity) have to re-mineralize the water. The real concern for most modern water systems across the globe (not just New York City) is PFOA and PFOS. The EPA set new limit for PFOS is 0.02 ppt; for PFOA, it’s 0.004 ppt. There are commercial water filtration systems that will remove a lot of the concerning containments brought up in this video (Google the Consumer Reports article from December 7, 2023).

[patriciafuchs]

I double filter all my drinking/cooking water. When I lived in the country I filtered my rainwater as well.
I would also be scared of pipes in old buildings. Lead in water is scary as well.

[pi-sxmb]

This is tragic because the water supply for NYC has historically been from fresh water lake reservoirs upstate that gets sent down in a viaduct. That water is absolutely clean and delicious. I suppose it doesn't do much good though if the last couple miles it gets delivered by lead-contaminated pipes.

[isodimetrix]

Funny that the US has the audacity to lecture rest of the world on human rights and pollution but not themselves!

[ryebread]

Love your videos man! Your form of investigative journalism is super informative, engaging, and important. The huge amount of work/research you cram into each video is really evident. Thank you! Can’t wait to see what’s next!

[BlkRamGuy]

In one of your videos you mentioned the average age of a apartment building was over 90 years old, so then the pipes have to be as old or older than the apartment buildings. Just something to think about...

[jkseraphim]

Mr. Cash if you see this, I witnessed this just a few days ago!

I was using my portable washing machine and as I was filling a bucket from my tub I noticed the water had a brownish tinge when it was in the hot water and cold.

The bucket I used is clean, so it didn't make sense and I know the water in my facets wasn't affected.

I was waiting for the news about it, but I'm so grateful to you making this video to confirm that my suspicions were correct!

Thank you from Brooklyn, NY.

[nout]

Cash really is selling New York in his videos: high rents, rats, unsafe subways, water flooding and now water poisoning, yikes!

[Pentrilar]

The pipes inside the building get replaced prety much every time someone changes the layout, the risers when there is a major renovation. But what usually gets ignored is the connection from the street into the building and that is where most of the lead in our buildings in NYC comes from. To replace that one piece of pipe it's $10-15k and needs schedueling/coordinating with a company that digs up pipes. Re-paving and patching is another after-cost.
Large cost for something so out of sight lets people ignore the lead it seems.

[dnash]

I don’t live in big cities anymore but when I visit and I have to wash, I am always struck by how rancid water the smells compared to my well water at home.

[brett]

I did the initial draft of the NYS law for the testing of lead in school drinking water. You could be getting lead from the faucet itself, the sodder in the newer pipes, the old pipes, the pump housing, the water main into the building and the pipes that the city owns. From different points in the building you can test for each of them.

[lindageiling]

PS. FLORIDA HAS HORRIBLE WATER ALSO, ITS NOT JUST NYC. DETROIT, CALIFORNIA ETC. NEVER DRINK THE TAP WATER .

[MistyLake]

When I lived in LA they overchlorinated the water going into apartments. Every time I'd shower my apartment smelled like a swimming pool and it smelled like I went swimming. I was always told not to drink the water from the tap and heard for years about it having arsenic, lead and pharmacuticals in it. Drank only Penta water because their purifying process removed all of that stuff and more from the water. I give my rabbit the Penta water too.

[crazedmonku]

I always filter the water in my house with a simple britia filter. can never be too careful! the best system would be the 3 step filtration systems you can install outside that hooks up to your main water pipe and does its job with uv and reverse osmosis but if you can't do that, having the smaller versions that fit under your sink would work just as well.

[JMUK]

I live in California and soon we will be drinking EXTREMELY expensive sewer water, but please do not be worried for my health. The water will be SUPER treated and cleaner than regular water. Governor Newsom said so. You will drink your treater sewer water and like it!