Suspected source: Firefighting foam used during drills at the East Hampton Airport.
In 2017, initial testing included 25 wells, one of which was found to have PFAS above the advisory level. The results forced the Suffolk County Department of Health Services to expand the testing. Of the 258 private wells tested so far (as of April 4, 2018), 135 have PFAS detections.
The town is considering installation of point-of-entry water filtration systems on affected properties and is working with the Suffolk County Water Authority (SCWA) to bring municipal water to the area.
After boundaries of the new water district are established, the SCWA authority will conduct an engineering study and town officials will host a public hearing on the creation of a taxing district. Then, construction on the mains is expected to take four to five months (Chinese, 2018).
Additional Resources:
- Water Quality Advisory for Private-Well Owners in Area of Wainscott
- Suffolk County Expands Private Well Survey in Wainscott
Media Coverage:
- Suffolk County Expands Private Well Survey in Wainscott
- Contaminants found in majority of wells tested in Wainscott
- Contaminated water has residents fuming
- Wainscott gets emergency declaration over water contamination
Full citations are available on the second page of the full contamination site tracker. We ask for your additions, changes, questions and comments be sent to pfasproject@gmail.com.