The Suffolk County Department of Health Services announced today the further expansion of its private well survey in the vicinity of the East Hampton Airport following the detection of perfluorinated compounds in a private well in the current survey area.
The compounds, known as perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances or PFAS, are currently unregulated by the USEPA, however, the agency has identified two of these substances, PFOS (perfluorooctane sulfonate) and PFOA (perfluorooctanoic acid), as contaminants of emerging concern. The agency has issued a lifetime health advisory level of 0.07 parts per billion in order to protect the most sensitive populations, including fetuses during pregnancy and breastfed babies, against potential adverse health effects.
PFAS have been used in a number of industrial and commercial products such firefighting foam, as well as coatings that repel water, oil, stains and grease. Thus, people may be exposed to PFOS and PFOA through air, water, or soil from industrial sources and from consumer products.
Residents whose property is served by a private well in the area bounded by Merchants Path to the north, Wainscott Harbor Road continuing on to Wainscott Hollow Road on the west, down to the ocean on the south and extending to Georgica Pond to the east (see attached map) will be receiving direct contact from the Suffolk County Department of Health Services, however, residents may feel free to contact the Office of Water Resources directly at 631-852-5810 to have their wells tested free of charge.
As a precaution, residents may wish to use bottled drinking water until their well water is tested. Bottled water is being made available free of charge to residents in the survey area that use a private well and may be obtained by calling the Town of East Hampton Purchasing Department at 631-324-4183 (M-F) or email jcarroza@ehamponny.gov. Residents in this expanded area who live in the Town of Southampton may obtain bottled drinking water by contacting the Town of Southampton at jwilson@southamptontownny.gov or by telephone at 631-283-6055 (M-F). Bathing and showering are not expected to be a health concern even if PFAS are present in the water supply.
Homes connected to a public water supply do not need to have their water tested as these supplies are routinely tested. PFOS and PFOA have not been detected in the public drinking water supply wells serving this area.
Residents with general questions about health effects of PFAS are advised to call the New York State Department of Health at 518-402-7950 Monday through Friday: 8 a.m. - 4 p.m.
Residents who are unsure if they are served by public water may call the Suffolk County Water Authority at 631-698-9500.
Residents with private wells who have questions about private well water in Suffolk County or who wish to have their wells tested may contact the Suffolk County Department of Health Services Office of Water Resources at 631-852-5810.
For additional information about PFAS, please visit the Suffolk County Department of Health Services website.
For more information on perfluorinated compounds, see USEPA Fact Sheet: PFOA & PFOS Drinking Water Health Advisories.
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