Water Quality Advisory for Westhampton's Private Well Owners: Suffolk County Department of Health

WESTHAMPTON, NY — The Suffolk County Department of Health Service has issued a water quality advisory for private well owners in some areas of Westhampton.

According to Suffolk County Department of Health, the United States Environmental Protection Agency has identified two chemicals, PFOS, perfluorooctane sulfonate, and PFOA, perfluorooctanoic acid, as emerging contaminants.

The chemicals, release said, are part of a class of chemicals known as perfluorinated compounds, or PFCs, which are currently unregulated by the federal government.

PFCs have been used in a number of industrial and commercial products such as firefighting foam, as well as coatings that repel water, oil, stains,and grease, the Suffolk County Department of Health said.

Individuals may therefore be exposed to PFOS and PFOA through air,water, or soil from industrial sources and from consumer products.

In 2013, major water supply companies began testing their wells for PFOS and PFOA. Results of that monitoring have recently become available.

'In the absence of federal regulation, New York State took aggressive action ‎and became the first state in nation to regulate PFOS and PFOA as hazardous substances, which enables the state to use the legal authority and financial resources of the State Superfund Program to clean up contaminated sites," the release said.

Through monitoring conducted under an EPA program known as the Unregulated Contaminant Monitoring Rule, PFOS was detected in public supply wells in the vicinity of the New York State Air National GuardBase at Gabreski Airport located at Old Riverhead Road in Westhampton Beach.

"The results of this sampling have already been reported to residents in the annual water quality report and to the US EPA," the release said. "Measures have been taken to address the public water supply."

Currently, the public drinking water supply in the area is below the current EPA lifetime health advisory level of 0.07 ppb, the release said.

EPA’s health advisory levels are established to protect even the most sensitive populations, including fetuses during pregnancy and breastfed babies, against adverse health effects, the release said.

Moving forward, to assess the drinking water quality of properties served with private wells, the Suffolk County Department of Health Service will be conducting a private well survey in the Gabreski area.

Once the wells are identified, they will be sampled for the contaminants; New York State has offered to provide laboratory analysis support.

Residents whose properties are served by private wells, or whose homes are located south of the Long Island Rail Road tracks, and east of Beaver Dam Creek in Westhampton, and west of Quantuck Creek in Westhampton, who would like to have their drinking water tested, should contact the SCDHS Office of Water Resources at (631) 852-5810.

The notice does not affect residences that utilize public water.

As part of the ongoing efforts of the Governor’s Water Quality Rapid Response Team, the DEC has informed Suffolk County and the Air National Guard that it is investigating Gabreski Airport, as a potential inactive hazardous waste disposal site, also referred to as a State Superfund site.

The action is being taken because firefighting foam,which may contain PFOS, was, or is currently being used, at the base.

The Air National Guard has committed to conducting a site investigation and the DEC is working to expedite their submission of a draft work plan.

The DEC has commenced a site characterization and will be mobilizing contractors to the site in an effort to pinpoint the potential sources of contamination.

Out of "an abundance of caution," residents using a private well as their water supply, might want to consider using bottled water for drinking, cooking and preparing infant formula until the well is tested and the quality of the water supply can be assured, the release said.

In addition, Suffolk County will offer bottled water to residents in the area with private wells at Westhampton Beach Village Hall, located at 165 Mill Road, Westhampton Beach, NY 11978o.

The water will be offered Friday through 8 p.m., on Saturday, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. and on Sunday, from 10 a.m. to 3 pm.

Weekday hours for Monday through Friday of next week are 7:30 a.m. to 7:30 p.m.

Residents with additional questions are advised to call the New York State Water Quality Hotline at 1-800-801-8092.