PFOA and PFOS found in well servicing Town Water System
- wagmanml
- Dec 20, 2023
- 3 min read
From e-mail sent from Town of Wappinger December 19, 2023
PFOA & PFOS MCL Exceedances at United Wappinger Water Improvement District
Why are you receiving this notice/information?
You are receiving this notice because testing of our public water system found the chemicals perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) and perfluorooctanesulfonic acid (PFOS) in the Town’s drinking water. Water samples collected from one of our ten wells on August 1, 2023 resulted in PFOA at a level of 5.66 parts per trillion (ppt) and PFOS at a level of 10.7 ppt. Additional samples collected from that well on November 6, 2023 resulted in PFOA at a level of 25.9 ppt and PFOS at a level of 18.8 ppt. These results are above New York State’s maximum contaminant levels (MCL) of 10 ppt PFOA and PFOS in public drinking water systems. CAMO Pollution Control immediately turned off that well.
Your water continues to be acceptable for all uses. Consuming drinking water with PFOA/PFOS at or somewhat above the MCL does not pose a significant short term health risk. The water system manager CAMO Pollution Control is working with the Town Board on a plan and strict timetable to reduce levels below the MCL in the Well in question.
What is being done to meet the MCL?
United Wappinger Water Improvement District is working with the Dutchess County Department of Behavioral & Community Health on a compliance schedule that includes steps to reduce levels of PFOA/PFOS.
On November 27, 2023 CAMO Pollution Control received the results of the ten wells sampled on 11/06/23. The results showed that one of the wells tested had elevated PFOA and PFOS levels and that well was taken offline on November 27th, 2023. The well which tested high for PFOA/PFOS produced approximately 12% of the total water produced from August 1 - November 27.
An investigation is being conducted, including sampling, to determine if treatment is required prior to placing the well back into service. The well will remain off until further notice. The system has ample capacity to provide customers with water from our remaining wells.
Additional information will be shared as further testing and progress occurs. This process is similar for any chemical detected in public drinking water that requires mitigation due to exceedance of an MCL. The compliance timetable will ensure that your drinking water will meet the MCL as rapidly as possible.
What are the health effects of PFOA/PFOS?
The available information on the health effects associated with PFOA/PFOS, like many chemicals, comes mostly from studies of high-level exposure in animals. Less is known about the chances of health effects occurring from lower levels of exposure, such as those that might occur in drinking water. As a result, finding lower levels of chemicals in drinking water prompts water suppliers and regulators to take precautions that include notifying consumers and steps to reduce exposure.
PFOA/PFOS has caused a wide range of health effects when studied in animals that were exposed to high levels. The most consistent findings in animals were effects on the liver and immune system and impaired fetal growth and development. PFOA/PFOS also causes cancer in laboratory animals exposed to high levels over their lifetimes.
Additional studies of exposures of PFOA/PFOS in people provide evidence that some of the health effects seen in animals may also occur in humans.
What is New York State doing about PFOA/PFOS in public drinking water?
The New York State Department of Health (NYSDOH) has adopted a drinking water regulation that requires all public water systems to test for PFOA/PFOS. If found above the MCL of 10 ppt, the water supplier must take steps to lower the level to meet the standard. Exceedances of the MCL signal that steps should be taken by the water system to reduce contaminant levels.
Where can I get more information?
For more information, please contact the Town of Wappinger at (845) 297-2744, 22 Middlebush Road, Wappingers Falls, NY 12590. You can also contact the Dutchess County Department of Behavioral & Community Health at (845) 486-3404.
If you have additional questions about these contaminants and your health, talk to your health care provider who is most familiar with your health history and can provide advice and assistance about understanding how drinking water may affect your personal health.
Information from the NYSDOH regarding emerging contaminants and PFOA/PFOS can be found at
General information about New York State public drinking water is also available at www.health.ny.gov/publicwater.
Public Water System ID# NY1330660
Date December 19, 2023
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