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The Independent UK
The Independent UK
National
Michael Hill

NYC will eventually have to abandon part of its water supply if it keeps getting saltier

New York Salty Reservoirs - (Copyright 2025 The Associated Press. All rights reserved.)

The suburban reservoirs that supply 10% of New York City's vaunted drinking water are getting saltier due to decades of road salt being spread near the system — and they will eventually have to be abandoned if nothing is done to reverse the trend, city officials warn.

The plug wouldn't have to be pulled until early next century, according to a new study. But the soaring saltiness could eventually affect the famous taste of the Big Apple’s water, which is sometimes called the champagne of tap water, and poses a challenge to managers of a system that serves more than 9 million people.

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