Bringing safe water to area impacted by PFAS

Officials from the Suffolk County Water Authority, Town of Brookhaven, Town of Riverhead and the Suffolk County Department of Health Services convened at a community meeting and provided an update on projects to bring safe drinking water to two areas of Manorville, where private wells have been impacted by PFAS contamination.

At the meeting, officials said the various sources of grant funding had been secured to pursue the projects, one in the Town of Brookhaven and one in the Town of Riverhead. In both cases, the water main will be extended to the impacted communities, each of which has 64 homes.

Tests on private wells in the area have detected various contaminants, with some levels exceeding state and federal drinking water standards. The perfluorinated compounds PFOS and PFOA—regulated by New York State last summer at 10 parts per trillion—are among the contaminants detected.

“The Suffolk County Water Authority is ready to begin this important project to bring safe and constantly tested drinking water to neighborhoods in the Manorville area impacted by PFAS contamination,” said Suffolk County Water Authority board chairman Patrick Halpin. “Those who take advantage of this opportunity will be receiving the resources and high-quality water of one of the most respected public water suppliers in the country.”

Brookhaven supervisor Ed Romaine said, “Most residents take clean drinking water for granted, but as some Manorville residents have experienced, that is not always the case with their groundwater. This project will finally provide safe and clean water that we have come to expect from the Suffolk County Water Authority. I am happy that quality-tested water is in the near future for the Manorville community.”

“On behalf of the town supervisor, all members of the town board and its departments, we are very pleased to have support from senators Schumer and Gillibrand, congressman La Lota, New York State Department of Health, and our state representatives, [with] an award of $3.815 million for Manorville Extension 94 and an award of $1.185 for Forge Road project. The town is and will continue to focus on addressing the protection of public health through clean, potable water. The town’s focus on public health is demonstrated by its continued efforts for funding and the success in 2021, 2022, and just days ago. Sometime ago, the town entered into an agreement with SCWA with the goal to provide clean drinking water to Extension 94 as expeditiously as possible, and we are anxious for work to begin for these residents,” said Devon Higgins, deputy supervisor, Town of Riverhead.

New York State Sen. Anthony Palumbo said, “Providing clean, reliable, and safe drinking water to the residents of Suffolk County remains one of my top priorities, and I am extremely happy that this critical project is moving forward for residents throughout the Manorville area. Today’s announcement is the result of years of hard work and the determination of residents, town supervisors Romaine and Aguiar, the Suffolk County Water Authority, and our state and federal representatives. This project is a prime example of what can be accomplished when government works together for the betterment of residents.”

“The Suffolk County Department of Health Services supports connections to public water systems whenever possible to ensure that residents have access to a regulated water supply,” said Dr. Gregson Pigott, Suffolk County commissioner of Health Services. “The department is pleased to work with our partners in state and local government in the ongoing effort to advance these projects.”

“Everyone should have access to clean drinking water. Often times, the regrettable stories of unsafe drinking water will conjure an image of an underdeveloped country,” shared Brookhaven town councilman Dan Panico. “However, we must recognize that we have domestic challenges with regard to contamination linked to the aftereffects of products and processes that have ceased many decades ago. The partnership between the Town of Brookhaven and the Suffolk County Water Authority will address the issue of contamination in private wells to help our residents achieve clean, safe public drinking water.”

“It’s been four long years for the Manorville community waiting for clean, safe drinking water. In the last four years, the drinking water standard for PFAS has gone from a federal advisory goal of 70 ppt, to a state drinking water standard of 10 ppt, and now a new proposed federal standard of four ppt. Homeowners with private wells need assistance to obtain public water that is tested and filtered when needed. We are appreciative of the all the levels of government and the Suffolk County Water Authority, who are working together to help protect the health and safety of this community,” said Adrienne Esposito, executive director of Citizens Campaign for the Environment.

“The Manorville community is anxious for this project to begin,” said area resident Kelly McClinchy. “We are appreciative of all the effort that has led to this point on our behalf. We look forward to being able to turn on our taps and know for sure that we have clean, safe water.”