Official statements or policy publications from NYCHA or NYC Mayor's Office

NYC Mayor Drinks Tap Water at Riis Houses, No Arsenic Found in Tests

May 7, 2024, 09:03 PM

A controversy has arisen around the safety of tap water at the Jacob Riis Houses in New York after Mayor Eric Adams declared it safe a year and a half ago. Despite his assurances, a resident was treated for arsenic poisoning, and others have reported similar symptoms. In response to these reports, Mayor Adams visited the housing complex and drank the tap water as a symbolic gesture to demonstrate its safety. This act followed investigative reporting that raised concerns about water quality. NYCHA officials and the mayor's deputies have stated they take water quality seriously, and subsequent water tests have found no traces of arsenic in the water.