Health officials have deemed tap water in the West Hempstead-Hempstead Gardens Water District safe to drink again.

Nearly 32,000 residents in West Hempstead and parts of Franklin Square, Garden City South and Cathedral Gardens had been told to use bottled water for drinking, bathing and cooking since the cancer-causing gasoline additive MTBE was detected in wells Tuesday morning. Water officials said the water could not be considered safe until two consecutive tests came back without any contamination.

West Hempstead Water District Superintendent Bob York says the last three rounds of testing showed no traces of contamination. He urges residents to drink the water and assures testing will continue to ensure tap water is clean and safe to use.

West Hempstead Water District superintendent comments on clean water

Related Information: West Hempstead-Hempstead Gardens Water District MTBE in Drinking Water EPA - Concerns about MTBEEPA - MTBE MTBE and Underground Storage Tanks Water still not safe to drink in parts of Nassau County