Community Corner

EPA: Treatment Plant Like a Big Water Filter

Activated charcoal used to cleanse underground water of toxins just like a standard water filter.

The toxic plume contaminating the aquifer underneath Port Jefferson village is getting a good scrubbing by the Environmental Protection Agency's new water pump and treatment plant using a process similar to one people may be very familiar with already, an activated carbon filter or the same technology used in your household water filter.

The EPA dug four wells to draw up water from the ground. Inside the plant are filters that will scrub the water of the contaminants, the most previlent of which is Trichloroethylene (TCE). According to EPA officials, TCE is the most common contaminant at Supefund sites.

The EPA also lists a host of other chemical toxins resulting from the chemicals Lawrence Aviation Industries illegally dumped into the ground for decades.

Find out what's happening in Port Jeffersonwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

The plume starts one mile upland at the original dumping site in Port Jefferson Station. Contaminants have been detected the basements of homes along the plume's path and eventually make their way into the Long Island Sound.

The plant uses the activated carbon filters to clense the water.

Find out what's happening in Port Jeffersonwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

"It's like a big Brita filter," said Walter Mugdan, EPA director of the region's emergency and remedial response division.

At various points around the system of pipes and machinery are small spouts at which workers can take water samples to test the levels of contaminants.

For now, the plant will be staffed while testing is ongoing on a daily basis. Eventually a local EPA employee will visit the site once a month to take water samples. Everything else can be done remotely by computer.

After the water passes through the filters, it is pumped into nearby Mill Creek through pipeline installed by the EPA last year. Clean water from the creek will eventually go into the ground and flows into the Long Island Sound.

According to Keith Glenn, EPA manager of the project, the water coming out the other end shows a "non-detect" for TCE, meaning it's clean of all contaminants.

If water in Mill Creek gets too high, a sensor will shut down the pump. Glenn explained that heavy rain may cause flooding and that they didn't want to add to the situation.

The plant is expected to run for about 20 years, after which the building will be turned over to the village of Port Jefferson.


Get more local news delivered straight to your inbox. Sign up for free Patch newsletters and alerts.

We’ve removed the ability to reply as we work to make improvements. Learn more here