SUFFOLK COUNTY, NY — Suffolk residents who rely on private wells can apply for free drinking water testing through a state pilot program aimed at identifying and reducing exposure to PFAS chemicals, county officials saidThursday.
The Private Well PFAS Testing and Mitigation Rebate Pilot Program is open to eligible homeowners, renters and businesses. In addition to free testing, participants may qualify for financial assistance to install treatment systems or connect their properties to a public water system.
Suffolk County received $1.5 million in state grant funding to provide residents with rebates for PFAS mitigation.
"Clean water is essential to our quality of life here in Suffolk County, and it is imperative that we utilize the resources available to us to better our communities," Suffolk County Executive Ed Romaine said. "Our residents deserve to know this information, and I encourage homeowners to participate in this free program if eligible."
PFAS, short for per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances, are a group of chemicals that can persist in the environment and contaminate drinking water.
The pilot program is being administered locally by the Suffolk County Department of Health Services. Eligible participants must own or rent a property that receives drinking water from a private well.
County officials said Suffolk is one of five counties invited to participate in the program.
"Clean drinking water is a cornerstone of health, and protecting the water supply of residents is a priority for our department," county Health Commissioner Dr. Gregson Pigott said. "We welcome the partnership with New York State in the coordinated efforts to take the first steps toward reducing potentially harmful PFAS contaminants in our water supply."
The county also operates a separate private well water testing program that screens for PFAS and approximately 300 other contaminants.
Residents whose drinking water comes from a public water system are not eligible for the private well pilot program. Public water suppliers are subject to a separate state compliance program requiring them to monitor and address PFAS and other contaminants.
Eligibility information and applications are available through the New York State Department of Health's Private Well PFAS program webpage.
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