brewster well field

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Volatile organic compounds (VOCs) were discovered in the Village of Brewster Well Field's water distribution system in 1978. Subsequent testing revealed a large plume of ground water contamination. The source of the contamination was traced to a dry-cleaning establishment that had been in operation since 1958. Operators disposed of dry-cleaning wastes in a dry well located adjacent to the establishment until 1983. Between 1978 and 1984, the Village of Brewster used several drilling, blending, and pumping strategies to keep contaminant levels down. In 1984, the Village, in association with EPA's Office of Research and Development, installed a treatment system to remove the VOCs so as to provide safe drinking water to approximately 2,000 area residents. The nearby East Branch Croton River is a significant brown trout fishery and, in combination with two other nearby streams, is a part of the Croton System contributing to New York City's water supply. A water intake lies 12 miles downstream of the site. Woods and wetlands surround the well heads, pump houses, and access roads, and the wetlands connect directly with the East Branch Croton River