The U.S. Department of Energy, Brookhaven National Laboratory and the Suffolk County Water Authority are identifying homes and/or businesses in the hookup area south of the Laboratory that have elected not to connect to the public water supply. This three-way effort will let these property owners and residents know they can have their private well drinking water tested for free.
Working with the Water Authority and its database, the Department and Laboratory will identify those homes and businesses that elected not to accept the free hookup to the public water supply. That free hookup offer was made in early 1996 and ended in May 1998. The hookup was a precautionary measure to prevent possible exposure to chemical contamination in groundwater from Brookhaven.
The free hookup offer went out to all properties within these boundaries: south of the Long Island Expressway; east of River Road; north of Sunrise Highway; and west of Wading River Road. The hookup area extends north of the expressway just east of the Laboratory's east boundary, along North Street and Schultz Road.
Once these properties are identified, owners and residents will be contacted. Those who wish to have their private well drinking water tested will be able to have it done for free by the Suffolk County Department of Health Services. The Department of Energy will pay the fee.
"Communicating with people in the hookup area is a priority for the Department of Energy," said Scott Mallette, senior environmental advisory for the Department's office at Brookhaven. "This update should be complete, and direct contact made with owners and residents, by the end of this summer."