Site Background
In December 2020, Emerging contaminants (ECs) were detected in the Village of Mayville’s public water supply. In response, DEC conducted a series of preliminary investigations which identified ECs at the site and the surrounding area. The primary contaminant of concern for this site is perfluorononanoic acid (PFNA). PFNA is a member of the class of contaminants known as per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS). The PFAS family of synthetic fluorinated compounds were mass produced in the United States for decades, dating back to the 1950s. PFAS are used in a wide variety of industrial and commercial applications such as textiles, aqueous film forming foams (AFFF), metal plating, semi-conductors, paper and food packaging, coating additives, cleaning products, pesticides, and personal care products.
Site Location
The Mayville PFAS site is located at 2 Academy Street in the Village of Mayville, Chautauqua County. The site contains multiple structures and greenspace. Although the boundary of the site has been limited to three tax parcels, the investigation area expands outside the site and throughout the Village of Mayville. Past investigations have occurred along Route 430, Patterson Street, Morris Street, and at Lakeside Park.
DEC has divided the site into three operable units (OUs). An operable unit represents a portion of a remedial program for a site that for technical or administrative reasons can be addressed separately to investigate, eliminate, or mitigate a release, threat of a release, or exposure pathway resulting from the site contamination.
Operable Unit 01 (OU-01) corresponds to the remedial program located at 2 Academy Street in the Village of Mayville. OU-01 is comprised of three tax parcels totaling 15.6-acres.
Operable Unit 02 (OU-02) corresponds to the downgradient areas located along Patterson Street. The extent of OU-02 has not been defined and further investigation is required.
Operable Unit 03 (OU-03) corresponds to the areas located further downgradient along Morris Street. The extent of OU-03 has not been defined and further investigation is required.
Site History
The Mayville PFAS site was formerly operated by the Chautauqua Lake Central School District. Located southwest of the school buildings were the former athletic / football fields. When the school district relocated, the on-site buildings were repurposed for commercial office space for the Town of Chautauqua and Chautauqua County Emergency Service Operations. Since relocation of the school district, the greenspace has not been utilized for purposes other than occasional recreation and fire training events.
Firefighting training exercises were conducted on the former athletic / football fields, where there has been reported use of aqueous film-forming foaming (AFFF). The AFFF is believed to have contained PFAS concentrates. Additional details pertaining to the current and historic site use will be determined as the investigation proceeds at this Site.
Previous Environmental Investigations
In December 2020 concentrations of PFNA were detected in the Village of Mayville’s public water supply system. Following the detection of PFNA in the public water supply system, the New York State Department of Health (NYSDOH) issued a do not drink advisory. In 2021, the Village of Mayville began sourcing water from a new supply well and installed a carbon treatment system on one of the existing supply wells. PFAS compounds have not been detected in the water supplied from the new sources.
To determine the source of PFNA in the public water supply system, DEC initiated an investigation to evaluate environmental media throughout the Village. Investigations revealed per-and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) contamination, specifically perfluorononanoic acid (PFNA) in on-site surficial soil, sediment, surface water, and groundwater. Off-site sediment, surface water and groundwater samples have demonstrated that contaminants have migrated beyond the site boundary. Further investigation is warranted to evaluate the suspected source area and to determine the nature and extent of off-site impacts to public drinking water supply wells.
In coordination with the NYSDOH, Chautauqua County Department of Health, and Village of Mayville officials, twenty-five private wells were sampled in December 2020. Results indicated that none of the private wells contained PFNA contamination or elevated concentrations of any other the PFAS that were analyzed.
A series of supplemental investigations were completed between 2021 and 2023. In 2023, the site was designated a "D-Site" (Mayville PFAS Site – D907050), indicating a site requires remediation due to drinking water contamination.
Drinking Water Contamination Program
The drinking water contamination program focuses on the investigation, mitigation, and remediation of Emerging Contaminants (ECs) in public drinking water systems. This program follows the same general format as other remediation sites, with necessary work plans, investigations, mitigation, remediation, institutional and engineering controls, and any operation and maintenance.
Project-Related Questions and Comments
Joshua Vaccaro, DEC Project Manager
[email protected]
700 Delaware Avenue
Buffalo, NY 14209
(716) 541-9657
Health-Related Questions
Shaun Surani, NYSDOH Project Manager
[email protected]
Empire State Plaza
Corning Tower Room #1787
Albany, NY 12237
(518) 402-7860
