In 2016, Newburgh, New York learned that its primary drinking water source was contaminated with PFOS — perfluorooctane sulfonate — at levels above the EPA’s health advisory. The source of the contamination: aqueous film-forming foam (AFFF) used for decades at Stewart Air National Guard Base, located directly adjacent to Washington Lake.
The city of 28,000 had to switch its entire water supply to an alternative source almost overnight. It’s one of the starkest examples in the country of military PFAS contamination directly affecting a municipal water system.
Washington Lake: A Reservoir with a Problem
Washington Lake served as Newburgh’s primary drinking water source for over a century. The reservoir sits on the southeastern edge of the city, and Stewart Air National Guard Base — which also serves as New York Stewart International Airport — sits on its western shore.
For decades, the base conducted firefighting training exercises using AFFF, a foam designed to suppress petroleum-based fires. AFFF is extraordinarily effective at putting out jet fuel fires. It’s also loaded with PFAS compounds, primarily PFOS.
The foam was used on training pads, during emergency responses, and in routine equipment testing. The PFAS in the foam didn’t break down. It washed off the training pads, seeped into the soil, migrated into groundwater, and flowed into Washington Lake.
When testing finally caught the contamination in 2016, PFOS levels in Washington Lake exceeded 170 parts per trillion — well above the EPA’s 70 ppt health advisory (which itself was already considered insufficiently protective by many scientists).
The Emergency Switch
When the contamination was confirmed, the City of Newburgh took immediate action: it switched from Washington Lake to an alternative supply from the Catskill Aqueduct, part of the New York City water system.
The switch was necessary but not without consequences. The Catskill Aqueduct connection provides clean water, but it changed the city’s position from a self-sufficient water provider to one dependent on an external source. The capacity, cost structure, and long-term reliability of that connection are all different from what the city had with its own reservoir.
Washington Lake has remained offline since 2016. The contamination in the reservoir and the surrounding soils means it can’t simply be turned back on. Any future use would require extensive treatment infrastructure — an investment the city can’t make without federal support.
Who’s Responsible
This is a Department of Defense contamination issue. Stewart Air National Guard Base is the source. The DoD has acknowledged that AFFF use at military installations nationwide has caused PFAS contamination.
Under the National Defense Authorization Act and subsequent directives, the DoD has been conducting PFAS investigations at current and former military installations. Stewart is among the sites where contamination has been confirmed and remediation is underway.
However, the pace of military cleanups has frustrated communities like Newburgh. The DoD’s investigation and remediation process follows its own timeline, and municipalities affected by the contamination have limited leverage to speed things up.
New York State has been more aggressive. The state DEC and Department of Health have pushed for faster action and stricter cleanup standards. New York’s 10 ppt MCLs for PFOA and PFOS (established in 2020) are among the most protective in the country.
Community Health Concerns
Newburgh’s population has been exposed to PFOS-contaminated water for an unknown period before the contamination was detected. AFFF has been used at Stewart since at least the 1970s, meaning the contamination may have been building for 40+ years before testing caught it.
PFOS exposure is associated with:
- Increased cholesterol
- Thyroid disruption
- Immune system effects (including reduced vaccine response)
- Increased risk of kidney cancer
- Liver effects
- Reproductive and developmental effects
The New York State Department of Health conducted a biomonitoring study of Newburgh residents, testing blood serum for PFOS and other PFAS compounds. Results showed elevated PFOS levels compared to national averages, consistent with long-term exposure through drinking water.
The community health impact is compounded by Newburgh’s demographics. The city has a median household income well below the state average, and a majority of residents are people of color. Like many environmental contamination stories, this one has an environmental justice dimension that can’t be separated from the public health facts.
The Financial Burden
Switching water sources isn’t free. Newburgh has incurred significant costs for the emergency connection to the Catskill Aqueduct, ongoing water purchase agreements, and infrastructure modifications.
The city has pursued reimbursement from the federal government. In 2022, the Department of Defense agreed to provide funding for a portion of Newburgh’s costs related to the PFAS contamination. But covering the full financial impact — including lost use of Washington Lake as a water supply asset — remains an ongoing negotiation.
The 2024 federal PFAS drinking water standards (4 ppt for PFOS and PFOA) strengthen Newburgh’s position in seeking federal support. The contamination of Washington Lake clearly exceeds these standards by a wide margin, reinforcing the need for remediation or permanent alternative supply funding.
What Residents Can Do
Newburgh’s current water supply from the Catskill Aqueduct is treated and monitored, and it meets all state and federal drinking water standards. The PFOS contamination issue is specific to Washington Lake, which is no longer in use.
That said, for residents who want extra protection:
A reverse osmosis system under the kitchen sink is the most effective point-of-use option for removing PFAS and other dissolved contaminants.
Check if your home has lead service lines. Newburgh’s older housing stock may have lead pipes or lead solder. The city’s lead service line inventory (required under the revised Lead and Copper Rule) should be publicly available.
If you have a private well in the Newburgh area — particularly near Stewart Air National Guard Base — get it tested for PFAS. The contamination plume from the base may affect groundwater beyond Washington Lake.
If you’re concerned about your water quality, a certified water treatment professional can test your water and recommend solutions appropriate for your specific situation.
What Comes Next
The big question for Newburgh is whether Washington Lake can ever be restored as a drinking water source. The answer depends on the scope and success of the DoD’s remediation efforts at Stewart and in the lake’s watershed.
If the contamination can be addressed at the source and the reservoir can be treated or naturally recover to meet New York’s strict 10 ppt PFOS standard, the city could regain its water independence. That’s a big if, and it’s years away at best.
In the meantime, Newburgh serves as a powerful example of how military PFAS contamination directly threatens community water supplies — and how the burden of that contamination falls hardest on communities that can least afford it.
Sources: EPA Region 2 PFAS investigation records, New York State Department of Health biomonitoring study, New York DEC, Department of Defense PFAS response program, City of Newburgh water quality reports.