What testing found in Newburgh's water

PFOA, a toxic "forever chemical," was detected in Newburgh's drinking water at an average of 4.3 parts per trillion, exceeding the federal health limit of 4 ppt by 8 percent.

The contamination was found in samples from two water systems serving the city's 51,282 residents: Newburgh City (29,000 people) and Newburgh Consolidated Water District (22,282 people). Testing detected four PFAS compounds total:

  • PFOA averaged 4.3 ppt across three detections, with a maximum reading of 4.6 ppt. The federal limit is 4 ppt.
  • PFPeA averaged 4.9 ppt, with a maximum of 6.6 ppt. No federal limit has been set for this compound.
  • PFHxA averaged 3.7 ppt, with a maximum of 4.4 ppt. No federal limit exists.
  • PFHpA averaged 3.4 ppt in two detections. No federal limit exists.

These samples were collected between 2023 and 2026 as part of the EPA's national testing program. Newburgh installed a granular activated carbon treatment system at its filtration plant in January 2018 after shutting down its main water source, Washington Lake, in 2016 due to severe PFAS contamination. The UCMR 5 samples were taken at the entry point to the distribution system and reflect conditions during the testing period.

The EPA finalized drinking water limits for PFOA and PFOS in April 2024 after determining there is no safe level of exposure to these chemicals. Water utilities must begin compliance monitoring by 2027 and meet treatment requirements by 2029.

What this means for Newburgh residents

PFOA is linked to serious health problems at very low concentrations. The EPA's assessment, based on decades of research including studies of communities exposed through contaminated drinking water, connects PFOA to kidney cancer, testicular cancer, liver damage, thyroid disease, high cholesterol, ulcerative colitis, pregnancy-induced hypertension, and reduced immune response to vaccines.

Pregnant women, nursing mothers, infants, and people with compromised immune systems face the highest risk from PFAS exposure. These chemicals cross the placenta and appear in breast milk. They accumulate in the body over time and break down extremely slowly.

Drinking and cooking with contaminated water are the primary exposure routes. Using the water for infant formula is a particular concern because babies drink more water relative to their body weight than adults. Bathing and showering pose minimal risk because PFAS are not readily absorbed through skin.

The compounds detected in Newburgh belong to a class of chemicals called per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances. Manufacturers have used them since the 1940s in firefighting foam, nonstick cookware, water-resistant fabrics, and food packaging. They persist in the environment and in human blood for years.

Where these chemicals came from

Newburgh's PFAS contamination came from Stewart Air National Guard Base, where military firefighters used aqueous film-forming foam for decades during training exercises and emergency response.

In May 2016, the City of Newburgh declared a state of emergency and shut off Washington Lake, its primary drinking water source, after PFOS was detected at concentrations up to 5,900 parts per trillion in some areas of the lake, according to Hudson River Sloop Clearwater. That level is nearly 1,500 times the current federal limit.

The contamination was traced to the Air National Guard base. A 1990 accidental release of 4,000 gallons of firefighting foam from a hangar sprinkler system sent PFAS into Recreation Pond and Silver Stream, which flow into Washington Lake. Decades of routine foam use during training also contributed to the pollution.

On August 12, 2016, the New York Department of Environmental Conservation listed Stewart Air National Guard Base as a Class 2A state Superfund site, according to NYSDEC.

The City of Newburgh has filed federal lawsuits against the U.S. Air Force, the State of New York, the airport operators, and PFAS manufacturers seeking damages for the contamination.

What Newburgh is doing about it

Newburgh has gone nearly a decade without its main water source. The city has relied on the Catskill Aqueduct and Brown's Pond as alternative supplies since the 2016 shutdown. A granular activated carbon treatment system was installed at the Newburgh filtration plant in January 2018 to filter PFAS from the water, according to Hudson River Sloop Clearwater.

Cleanup work at Stewart Air National Guard Base is ongoing but faces uncertainty. In October 2025, the Newburgh Restoration Advisory Board warned that a federal government shutdown could delay PFAS cleanup work at the base, WAMC reported.

The New York Department of Environmental Conservation maintains oversight of the Superfund site. The state has required investigation and remediation work at the base and surrounding areas.

CheckYourWater requested comment from Newburgh City and Newburgh Consolidated Water District regarding their current PFAS levels and treatment status but did not receive a response by publication time.

Steps Newburgh residents can take today

Residents can reduce their PFAS exposure while cleanup and treatment work continues:

  • Request your water utility's most recent Consumer Confidence Report. Contact Newburgh City or Newburgh Consolidated Water District directly, or search for their CCR online using the EPA's lookup tool at epa.gov/ccr.
  • Install a water filter certified to remove PFAS. Look for NSF/ANSI Standard 53 certification for activated carbon filters (pitcher or under-sink models) or NSF/ANSI Standard 58 certification for reverse osmosis systems. Confirm the specific filter is certified for PFOA and PFOS removal, not just general contaminant reduction.
  • If you have an infant, use filtered water to prepare formula.
  • Replace filter cartridges according to the manufacturer's schedule. Saturated filters stop removing contaminants.
  • Attend Newburgh City Council meetings and water district board meetings to ask questions about treatment performance and testing results.
  • Learn more about PFAS contamination and what you can do at CheckYourWater's action page.
  • Review the full testing data for your water system at /system/NY3503549.

Full test results

Complete PFAS testing data for Newburgh City and Newburgh Consolidated Water District is available at /system/NY3503549.

Data comes from the EPA's Unregulated Contaminant Monitoring Rule 5 program. Samples were collected between 2023 and 2026. UCMR 5 tests are taken at the entry point to the distribution system, before any household-level filtration. Results reflect conditions at the time of sampling and may not represent current finished water quality if treatment improvements have been made.