PFOA

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.

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.

Chemical contaminants known to have a wide range of health risks have been detected at the Riverhead landfill site on Youngs Avenue at levels up to more than 10 times the state drinking water standard, prompting an investigation by environmental and health officials into potential contamination of nearby private wells.

The deferral, effective until August 2022, allows the Riverhead Water District additional time to comply with drinking water standards for certain "emerging contaminants" adopted by the state last year.

Riverhead moved forward with hiring an environmental law firm based in San Francisco, California to sue manufacturers of chemical contaminants detected in one of its public water supply wells.

he town board is expected to vote Tuesday to retain the firm Sher Edlin LLP of San Francisco, California to sue the manufacturers of the chemical contaminants that have been found in one of the Riverhead Water District’s wells.