Over half of Mattituck’s private wells contain alarming levels of toxic 'forever chemicals'. And this is where things get truly unsettling—some wells show contamination more than sixty times the legal safety limit.
A nearly year-long investigation has revealed that 20 out of 38 private wells in the Mattituck area have PFAS concentrations exceeding the state’s permissible levels for PFOA and PFOS. An additional 11 wells contained other PFAS compounds at elevated levels, according to Grace Kelly-McGovern, public relations director for the Suffolk County Department of Health Services.
The contamination stretches across the west end of Marratooka Pond, near James Creek Pond and the Love Lane corridor, extending from Mattituck High School all the way to Route 48.
What are PFAS, and why should we worry?
These substances, known as “forever chemicals,” are synthetic and almost impossible to break down naturally. Once they enter the body, they can accumulate over time. The New York State Department of Health warns that exposure to PFAS can cause cancer and other serious health problems in humans and animals alike.
Tests found contamination levels reaching as high as 607 parts per trillion (ppt), vastly exceeding New York’s safety threshold of 10 ppt. But here's the part most people miss: The study also discovered several unregulated PFAS varieties that are not yet covered by U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) limits.
“Just because a chemical isn’t regulated doesn’t mean it’s safe,” said Lokesh Padhye, a water contamination researcher and associate director at the New York State Center for Clean Water Technology. After reviewing the county’s findings, Padhye described the results as “extremely concerning,” expressing worry about residents who may have been drinking from highly contaminated wells for years.
The human cost hits home
One local business owner, Kevin Keyser, knows this too well. After his landscaping company’s well tested positive for PFAS this March, he faced a difficult choice: spend $89,000 to connect to public water, install an expensive filtration system, or rely on bottled water. For now, he’s chosen the latter—receiving deliveries of bottled water every two weeks courtesy of the Health Department.
“I just want the county to step up and help us,” Keyser said, urging the Suffolk County Water Authority (SCWA) to find grant funding so residents aren’t forced to shoulder enormous out-of-pocket expenses.
A struggle for funding and infrastructure
SCWA communications director Daniel Dubois confirmed that the authority applied for a federal grant in March but wasn’t approved. A separate application under the Water Infrastructure Improvement Act (WIIA) was submitted in September and is still awaiting a decision. Meanwhile, the SCWA continues extending water mains across the region—projects in 2021, 2023, and 2024 have already expanded access.
For residents, connecting to SCWA’s supply can cost between $10,000 and $25,000, though the authority offers the first 75 feet of piping for free and financing over 20 years.
Schools affected—but safe for now
The study also found two contaminated wells on Mattituck High School’s property, one at the track field and another near the tennis courts. These wells are used only for irrigation, and the school district emphasized that all drinking and cooking water on campus comes from SCWA’s safe public supply. Superintendent Shawn Petretti reassured families in an October 1 letter that “all drinking water in our schools is safe and exceeds all health standards.”
As a precaution, the school now irrigates only at night to allow chemicals to dissipate naturally and is considering switching entirely to county water for field irrigation—a decision that would require budget discussions.
County Health Commissioner Gregson Pigott advised anyone using the school’s outdoor areas to wash their hands before eating or drinking, just to minimize risk.
Testing, responsibility, and unanswered questions
Keyser, reflecting on his experience, now urges everyone who relies on private wells to have their water tested—especially before buying property. “If you’re purchasing a house or business on the North or South Fork, make sure your well water is tested before closing,” he warned.
Residents within the survey zone can now request free water quality tests—the usual $100 fee has been waived by the Health Department. Results, however, can take up to eight weeks after sampling, which itself may take as long as six weeks to schedule.
The investigation remains active. Nineteen properties have yet to participate—owners either didn’t respond or declined sampling requests. Groundwater profiling wells have also been installed to assess pollution levels at varying depths.
The biggest mystery: the source of the contamination remains unknown. Despite inquiries, the New York State Bureau of Environmental Exposure Investigation has not yet commented. The bureau has a long history of monitoring environmental health through its Cancer Surveillance Improvement Initiative, launched in 1998.
A growing countywide concern
This isn’t an isolated issue. In Suffolk County, around 45,000 private wells supply drinking water to some 200,000 residents. Because these wells are often shallow, they’re more susceptible to contamination and saltwater intrusion. The SCWA, by contrast, operates 633 deeper wells serving 1.2 million people and has routinely tested for PFAS since 2013.
“We run about 200,000 test results every year,” said SCWA CEO Jeff Szabo. “By the time the water reaches your tap, it meets or exceeds every standard.”
But that reassurance raises the central question: Should private well owners trust their water at all, or is it time to connect everyone to public supplies? And more importantly—should governments bear the cost of protecting residents from contaminants they didn’t cause?
What do you think? Is the government doing enough to address water contamination in local communities, or are private property owners unfairly left to handle a public health crisis alone?
