PFAS

Contamination of fish in portions of the Peconic River by the “forever chemicals” known as PFAS prompted the New York State Health Department this week to warn the public to limit consumption of fish caught in those areas.

Environmental investigators have found new areas of PFAS contamination — some at very high levels — at the former Grumman site in Calverton, raising questions from community members about possible impacts to development plans for the property.

Riverhead has been awarded more than $3.8 million in grant funding for the extension of public water to 64 homes Manorville area, and a separate $1.2 million grant to extend public water to homes on Forge Road in Calverton.

The federal Environmental Protection Agency today announced a proposed drinking water standard for PFOA and PFOS of 4 parts per trillion, considered the lowest level at which they can be reliably measured. The proposal is "a game-changer," said environmental activist Adrienne Esposito.

Residents of Manorville, where many private wells are contaminated with toxic chemicals, are angry that NY State has again denied grant funding for public water to 128 homes near the former Grumman facility in Calverton.

Clean water activist Adrienne Esposito organized a press conference in Manorville today, where residents gathered to demand state officials provide funding for public water in a remote area of Manorville where private wells are contaminated with toxic chemicals.

Calverton and Manorville residents will rally Wednesday for clean water, after a request for funding for a public water hookup was denied by the state. “The Thanksgiving menu for Calverton is turkey, stuffing, gravy and a side helping of toxic chemicals,” said Adrienne Esposito of Citizens Campaign for the Environment.

The Suffolk County Department of Health Services is conducting private water well surveys in neighborhoods immediately south of Peconic Lake in Calverton after detecting harmful chemicals above state drinking water standards in 21 properties in the area.

The new lifetime health advisory levels are lower than the maximum levels set by New York State in 2020 and lower than what can currently be detected by testing technologies.

Riverhead is seeking grant funding from New York State to help the Riverhead Water District provide public water to an area of Calverton near the terminus of the Long Island Expressway where health-threatening contaminants have been identified in private drinking water wells.