Brewster Well Field is a federal Superfund site in Brewster, New York, listed on the National Priorities List in September 1983. The contamination started when a dry cleaner disposed of cleaning wastes into an on-property dry well until 1983. Volatile organic compounds (VOCs) spread into the local well field, threatening drinking water for about 2,000 residents and posing a risk to the East Branch Croton River, part of New York City's water supply system.
The site holds 32 identified contaminants of concern. The main ones are VOCs including trichloroethene, tetrachloroethene, and benzene. Most contamination sits in groundwater. Trichloroethene and tetrachloroethene are also found in soil, sediment, sludge, and debris. Cleanup is organized into two operable units: one managing groundwater migration and one controlling the contamination source.
EPA took several steps to clean up the site. A groundwater pump-and-treat system went online in 1991 and has treated about 398 million gallons of contaminated water. Treated water now discharges to the East Branch Croton River through a pipe completed in 1996. In 1991, EPA excavated about 100 cubic yards of contaminated soil and sediment and removed the dry well itself. When contamination levels stayed elevated, EPA installed a sub-slab mitigation system under the former dry cleaner building, now a Subaru dealership, to capture vapors and prevent them from entering the building. Soil sampling in 2011 confirmed cleanup goals were met for soil. New York State took over operation of the groundwater treatment system in October 2007 and continues running it. Restrictions on new private well installation and notifications to the local planning board and dealership remain in place.
Current assessments confirm that human exposure to contamination is under control. There are no unacceptable exposure pathways across the site. Groundwater migration has been stabilized, and EPA found no unacceptable discharge to surface water. Physical cleanup construction was completed in April 1997, and the site was designated sitewide ready for anticipated reuse in March 2015. A car dealership operating on the site employed 25 people and reported about $11.2 million in annual sales as of December 2020. The site has not yet been deleted from the National Priorities List. EPA completed its most recent five-year review in March 2022, confirming ongoing protection of public health and the environment. The next review is estimated for March through May 2027.
Community members who want to stay involved can reach out through EPA's Community Involvement Program. Site records are available for public review at Brewster Village Hall, 50 Main Street, Brewster, NY, or at the EPA Region 2 Superfund Records Center at 290 Broadway, 18th Floor, New York, NY. The Community Involvement Coordinator and Remedial Project Manager can answer questions directly.
