IMPORTANT INFORMATION ABOUT YOUR DRINKING WATER

PFOS MCL Exceedance at Camp Smith NYS Non – Community Water System

Why are you receiving this notice/information?

You are receiving this notice because testing of our public water system found the 

chemical perfluorooctanesulfonic acid (PFOS) in your drinking water at the installation 

wellhead #1 at 38.2 parts per-trillion (ppt) and wellhead #2 at 33.8 ppt. This is above 

New York State’s maximum contaminant level (MCL) of 10 ppt for PFOS in public 

drinking water systems. Consuming drinking water with PFOS at or somewhat above 

the MCL does not pose a significant short term health risk. Your water continues to be 

acceptable for all uses. Camp Smith’s NYS Non-Community Water System is working

on a strict timetable to reduce levels below the MCL.

What are the health effects of PFOS?

The available information on the health effects associated with 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.

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. PFOS also causes 

cancer in laboratory animals exposed to high levels over their lifetimes. Additional 

studies of exposures of 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 PFOS in public drinking water?

The New York State Department of Health (NYS DOH) has adopted a drinking water 

regulation that requires all public water systems to test for 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. 

What is being done to meet the MCL?

Camp Smith NYS Non-Community Water System is working with the Westchester 

County Health Department on a compliance schedule that includes steps to reduce 

levels of PFOS.
The DMNA, through the Office of General Services designed, bid and awarded a 

contract to upgrade the Water Treatment Plant (WTP). The GAC system is installed and

is working as intended. The water system upgrade will be completed once the water 

softener components are brought online. 

Camp Smith installed Granular Activated Carbon (GAC) filtered drinking water stations 

and labeled them “safe for drinking and cooking”. Camp Smith labeled unfiltered water 

points “not safe for drinking and cooking”. Camp Smith has communicated verbally 

through leadership and posted signage, as indicated, to inform its full-time workforce, 

part time work force, contractors and visitors of locations where water can be used for 

drinking and cooking. Random quarterly sampling of GAC filtered drinking water 

stations has demonstrated values of zero/less than 10 ppt of any PFOS.

On January 9th, 2024, The New York State Department of Health Bureau of Water 

Supply Protection communicated a comment letter to DMNA’s contracted engineers 

responding to our previous engineering report. The comments are currently under 

review with a follow up to ensue. 

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. 

Where can I get more information?

For more information, please contact 1LT Steves Vanderpool at (518) 786-4367, cell at 

(518) 813-1114. You can also contact the Westchester County Health Department at 

(914) 813-5000.

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.

General information about New York State public drinking water is also available at 

www.health.ny.gov/publicwater.

Public Water System ID# NY5902878 

Date January 12th, 2024