PFAS — "forever chemicals" — have contaminated drinking water across Westchester. Residents in Bedford, Pound Ridge, and beyond face real exposure risks. We built a free tool to help you understand yours.
20+known PFAS sites in Westchester County
$400+cost of professional PFAS water testing
70%of residents on private wells at risk
⚠ Bedford, NY
PFAS detected at 28× EPA health advisory level in multiple private wells. Source: NYS DEC Site Remediation.
🔬 Pound Ridge, NY
Elevated PFOA/PFOS concentrations linked to historic industrial discharge. Ongoing monitoring active.
✓ North Castle, NY
Municipal supply tested. Private wells unverified — risk varies by parcel.
The Problem
Forever chemicals in our backyard
PFAS (per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances) are a group of over 12,000 synthetic chemicals used in everything from non-stick cookware to firefighting foam. They don't break down in the environment — or in the human body.
Westchester County has documented contamination at military sites, former industrial facilities, and fire training grounds across the region. Residents relying on private wells are the most vulnerable, as their water isn't subject to the same municipal testing requirements.
Professional PFAS testing costs $200–$500, making it inaccessible for many families — especially those who don't yet know they're at risk. WaterWatch Westchester was built to close that gap: to help residents understand their exposure risk before committing to expensive testing, and to connect them with the right resources for their situation.
Why PFAS matter
01
Persistence — PFAS have carbon-fluorine bonds, among the strongest in chemistry. They accumulate in soil, groundwater, and human tissue indefinitely.
02
Health effects — Linked to kidney and testicular cancer, thyroid disease, immune suppression, and developmental issues in children. No safe threshold exists.
03
Westchester exposure pathways — Airport fire training (AFFF foam), semiconductor manufacturing, metal plating, and historic landfills are primary local sources.
04
2024 EPA standard — The EPA set a maximum contaminant level of 4 parts per trillion for PFOA and PFOS. Many Westchester sites exceed this by orders of magnitude.
How It Works
Three steps to clarity
Enter your location
Type your address or intersection in Westchester County. Our geocoder places you precisely on the map, factoring in your specific parcel's context.
Spatial risk analysis
Your location is cross-referenced against 8 open datasets: DEC contamination sites, watershed boundaries, land use, well density, and more — scored automatically.
Targeted resources
Based on your risk tier — High, Moderate, or Low — you're directed to appropriate testing resources: professional labs, at-home kits, or preventive filtration.
Data Sources
Built on open data
WaterWatch Westchester integrates eight publicly available geospatial datasets to produce composite risk scores. All data is sourced from government and academic repositories.
🗺️
NYS DEC Contamination Site Registry
Environmental remediation sites with confirmed or suspected PFAS presence. Includes spill incidents, inactive hazardous waste sites, and voluntary cleanup sites.
SOURCE: data.ny.gov — Environmental Remediation
💧
NHD Watershed & Hydrography
National Hydrography Dataset stream networks and watershed delineations. Used to model downstream contamination pathways from point sources.
SOURCE: USGS National Map — NHD
⚗️
USEPA ECHO Facility Database
Enforcement and Compliance Online records of regulated facilities with PFAS discharge history, including permitted industrial dischargers.
SOURCE: echo.epa.gov
🏭
Westchester County Land Use GIS
Parcel-level zoning, historical land use classification, and proximity to commercial/industrial zones. Key for identifying legacy contamination risk.
SOURCE: Westchester County GIS Services
📍
NYS Drinking Water Watch
Public water system testing results and violation history. Used to differentiate municipal supply risk from private well risk.
SOURCE: health.ny.gov — Drinking Water
🛫
DoD / FAA Airport AFFF Use Records
Aqueous Film Forming Foam (AFFF) usage records at military and civilian airports. AFFF is the primary PFAS source near Westchester Airport and National Guard facilities.
SOURCE: DoD PFAS Records, FAA Registry
The Stakes
This is a real problem
12,000+
PFAS compounds identified. Only a fraction are regulated.
$0
Cost to use this tool. Know your risk before spending $400 on testing.
4 ppt
EPA's 2024 limit for PFOA/PFOS. Some Westchester wells exceed this 100×.
Your water deserves scrutiny.
Enter your address and see your PFAS contamination risk score, backed by real geospatial data.
PFAS Risk Assessment
Enter your address and a few details about your property. We'll calculate your contamination risk score using spatial data from eight open-source datasets.
Older properties are more likely to be on private wells and closer to legacy industrial sites.