An oil spill of up to 200 gallons by Lake Oscawana in Putnam Valley
has residents worried about their well water.

The New York Department of Environmental Conservation is investigating a home heating oil spill at 55 Lee Ave., which is believed to have come from a hole in the fuel tank system. Some of the heating oil migrated on to the lake's surface and it's believed to have contaminated the ground, said Putnam Valley Supervisor Robert Tendy.

"They're going to test the homeowner's water to see if there's been any contamination, if it's contaminated, they're going to test the neighbors' water," said Tendy.

The oil spill was reported to the DEC March 15 and Tendy said its unclear where most of the oil went, Tendy said Monday. The fear in the community is that the oil seeped into the ground and will penetrate the water table that feeds resident's wells.

Last week Tendy sent residents an angry email describing the DEC's lack of response to the spill, then over the weekend the state agency told Putnam Valley officials what it would do in the short term, including water testing.

The DEC's representatives could not be immediately reached for comment by phone or email.

Tendy said the DEC told him that it estimated up to 200 gallons of No. 2 heating oil leaked out of the home's oil tank based on oil purchase records. Tendy said the homeowner or an insurer could ultimately be responsible for the clean up cost, but his immediate concern is a clean-up plan from the state.

A 200-gallon home heating oil spill is large compared to the spills typically posted on the DEC's spills website. Many home heating oil spills are usually a gallon or two when tanks are overfilled.