Clean water and teachers

Let’s do our share for cleaner water

The article “Push to improve LI’s water runs into delays” [News, Sept. 25] provides us with a thorough overview of the challenges faced by Nassau and Suffolk county water authorities and districts to safeguard our drinking water.

Highly toxic chemicals such as PFOS and PFOA that are used to make cleaning pots and pans easier are cited as part of the problem.

While the debate rages as to how much of these chemicals humans, including our pets and plant life, can handle, and thus set acceptable standards for them to be in our drinking water, the contamination continues. It will continue until either the chemical companies find safer ways to offer their products, or we pitch in.

I am glad that Long Island has three environmental groups working to petition Gov. Kathy Hochul to bring PFAS standards toward zero [“Coalition urges state to adopt PFAS standards,” News, Sept. 20].

It’s not fair to expect water authorities and water districts to take on more than their share of the burden of keeping our water safe. We as consumers must change some of our lifestyles to protect our drinking water, for ourselves and future generations.

 — Diane Lundegaard, Dix Hills

Teachers unite outside classrooms

A reader asked good questions about student education [“Many factors in play to educate students,” Letters, Sept. 26]. I’ll address this one: “Are the most successful teachers sharing their savvy with other faculty members?”

Teachers go beyond their classroom walls to collaborate. For example, on Oct. 15, EdCampLI will host its annual free event, at Bethpage High School, open to all. More than 1,000 have preregistered.

Educators at all levels learn and share their ideas as well as their struggles. The group also holds monthly get-togethers across Long Island.

Details can be found at edcampli.weebly.com.

 — Patty Richter, Setauket

The writer is a planning team member of EdCampLI.