Brookhaven releases groundwater plume plan, but critics say it falls short
Recent water testing revealed elevated levels of several “forever chemicals,” including PFOA, PFOS, and 1,4‑dioxane.
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The Town of Brookhaven has released its plan to address a toxic groundwater plume spreading from the Brookhaven Landfill — but environmental advocates say the proposal does little to actually clean up the contamination.
Recent water testing revealed elevated levels of several “forever chemicals,” including PFOA, PFOS, and 1,4‑dioxane. Those chemicals have been linked to cancer, and the concentrations found in 2022 and 2023 exceeded New York’s limits.
The town’s newly released report outlines two major steps: expanding off‑site monitoring of the plume and connecting roughly six nearby homes to the Suffolk County Water Authority’s public drinking water system. But the plan stops short of installing groundwater extraction wells — a method commonly used to remove contaminants from aquifers.
Adrienne Esposito, executive director of Citizens Campaign for the Environment, sharply criticized the decision.
“They selected to do almost nothing, and what Brookhaven Town has selected to do is actually quite shocking,” she said. Esposito argues that extraction wells are essential to prevent the plume from continuing to migrate toward Beaver Dam Creek and eventually Bellport Bay. “When government makes a mess, they’re supposed to clean up that mess,” she added.
The town’s report cites cost as a major factor in its decision. According to the document, designing and constructing an extraction and treatment system would cost an estimated $106 million, with an additional $4.15 million per year in operating and maintenance expenses. Esposito disputes those figures, calling them inflated.
For now, the plan is under review by the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation. Town officials declined to comment further, citing ongoing litigation related to the landfill.
The Brookhaven Landfill is scheduled to be capped and closed by 2029.
