Navy Begins Drilling More Testing Wells South of Former Grumman Plant

The U.S. Navy began drilling new testing wells south of an underground plume of contaminated groundwater at the former Grumman defense plant in Calverton last week to test the extent of the pollution and ensure the toxins have not yet reached the Peconic River.

The sites, located farther south than previous testing areas south of River Road in the Suffolk County Parks area, will monitor chemical concentrations.

The underground plume of water polluted by solvents and fuel dumped at the site when it was used by Grumman from 1954 to 1996, is over a mile long. Residents, civic and environmental groups have raised concerns that the  plume could spread into the Peconic River and affect animal and plant life.

Currently, only one drinking-water well at the Peconic River Sportsman's Club on River Road in Manorville has been shut down due to contaminated water. Officials have said that public water supplies are not at risk.

Town Supervisor Sean Walter said that the plume is currently located off of the Enterprise Park at Calverton property owned by the town and would not affect businesses there.

Wading River resident Bill Gunther, a member of the Restoration Advisory Committee that has worked with Navy and government officials to clean up the site, said he was told the new drilling sites would be used to measure the extent of the plume and ensure it had not seeped into the Peconic River. 

The Navy first discovered the plume in 2006, Gunther said. At the time, the Navy said the pollutants would be naturally filtered, but a Suffolk County Department of Health survey in 2008 revealed more extensive contamination, leading the Navy to to pump contaminated groundwater from the site and prevent the plume from travelling farther south.

While an email exchange did confirm the Navy was drilling, representatives could not be reached for further comment. It is unknown when the testing sites will be complete or when results will be available.