Calverton pollution demands accountability as groundwater risk grows

Groundwater threat grows with delays

By Ed Romaine

The former Grumman-Navy site in Calverton is rife with pollution left over from its industrial past.

Unlike some forms of pollution, the chemicals present do not break down for generations and are linked to various cancers and organ-related illnesses.

These “forever chemicals” — PFAS and 1,4-dioxane — found in plumes stemming from the site now stretch far from their origins. Every moment of delay allows them to inch further into our groundwater, contaminating drinking wells and surface water.

For 30 years, the Navy has delayed cleanup efforts. Even as Bethpage and other former Navy sites attracted national headlines, the Navy has refused to seriously acknowledge the problem in Calverton. Bethpage shows us we have options.

The health and well-being of Suffolk residents is not negotiable. I intend to pursue all avenues to ensure the United States Navy takes accountability for the condition of the Grumman-run site and the neighboring contaminated land.

Forever chemicals can be mitigated to safe levels.

It is a costly process that begins with understanding the full scope of the problem — something impossible without full cooperation from all parties involved. The Navy delayed releasing its latest fish sampling data for one year.

The site is also a deep recharge area, meaning contaminants can penetrate the ground both deeply and laterally. Current test wells show PFAS levels well above the state limit of 10 parts per trillion — some wells have reached thousands of parts per trillion. One test well also found 1,4-dioxane at 10 times the state drinking water standard, with contamination entering the Peconic River.

Data collected by our well-drilling and sampling teams paints a far worse picture than any data the Navy has publicly released to date.

Fishing in neighboring Swan Pond is already prohibited due to PFAS found in the water and fish — an escalation from previous warnings. Since 2023, Peconic Lake has carried a fish advisory recommending no more than one meal per month of yellow perch due to elevated PFAS concentrations.

Without swift action to clean up contaminated source areas and toxic groundwater plumes, more prohibitions may be put in place along the Peconic River to protect public health.

Other East End residents now fear for the shared waters of the Peconic Bay and what continued inaction could mean for their health. These concerns are supported by Suffolk County Department of Health Services tests from 2026 showing surface water PFAS concentrations in the Peconic River are substantially higher than samples collected in 2024. PFNA levels were up to 19 times higher, PFOS up to 25 times higher, and PFOA up to five times higher than levels observed two years earlier.

I urge the Navy to take accountability and move forward with remediation, as was done in Bethpage.

In the meantime, residents are urged to contact U.S. Rep. Nick LaLota, as well as U.S. Sens. Chuck Schumer and Kirsten Gillibrand, to formally express their interest in remediation.

Residents who need their private wells tested can contact the Suffolk County Health Department at (631) 852-5810. More information on the Private Well Water Testing Program is available by visiting this website as well.

The author, Ed Romaine is the Suffolk County Executive. Grumman site photos by Nick Esposito.