Goshen outlines state-funded PFAS private-well testing pilot; residents warned of possible disclosure and partial remediation costs

GOSHEN, N.Y. — Town officials described a New York State pilot that will make limited grant funds available for private-well testing for PFAS, commonly called "forever chemicals," and said the town will post a Goshen Private Well Protection Initiative on its website to consolidate testing and remediation resources.

Supervisor Chris Healy said the state program covers six counties and that Goshen is listed as county No. 5 on a county-level map because the town has many private wells. He said town-operated wells are tested regularly and have shown no PFAS detections: "We test our wells regularly. I think every six months for PFAS. We have no detection whatsoever in any of our wells right now," Healy said.

Jonathan Redberg, a county legislator working with the town on outreach, encouraged residents to apply quickly because funds are limited and allotted on a first-come, first-served basis within each county. He urged caution about potential downstream costs: "If you do test, and then decide not to go ahead with remediation for whatever reason, it is required to be put on your — if you're gonna sell your property, it's required to be disclosed," Redberg said.

Board members and residents raised questions about the scope of the pilot, how the money will be divided among participating counties and whether privately initiated tests (outside the state program) trigger the same disclosure requirements. Jean Denonfrio, introduced herself as "a resident of Goshen," reiterated that sellers are obligated to disclose PFAS if they test positive: "There was a disclosure act when you sell your home. If you test for PFAS, you are obligated to say you have it," she said.

Officials said the state grant may not cover full remediation costs — one speaker offered an example that a $10,000 remediation might be covered only in part, with the town or homeowner bearing remaining costs — and said the county health department will be a resource for technical questions and follow-up. Healy said the town will compile flyers, county contacts and a list of testing vendors on its forthcoming web page.

Next steps: the board said it would post the Goshen Private Well Protection Initiative on the town website within a few weeks with links to county and state materials, encourage residents to contact the county health department for more technical guidance and remind applicants that program funds are limited and distributed on a first-come, first-served basis.