Hoosick Falls to vote on new water source amid contamination concerns

HOOSICK FALLS, N.Y. (WRGB) — The village of Hoosick Falls is set to vote on a new water source, a significant step in addressing a long-standing water contamination issue that dates back to 2014. The problem began when a local resident linked illnesses, including his father’s death, to a potentially contaminated water source.

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The village’s water, drawn from a well near Saint Gobain Performance Plastics, was found to be contaminated with perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) and other per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), said Hoosick Falls Village Mayor Rob Allen.

“The village’s testing and the state eventually stepping in all confirmed that our water source had been contaminated, likely due to 40, 50, 60 years of manufacturing processes that left us with very large amounts of PFOA and a few other PFAS contaminants in our village water source,” Allen said.

PFAS, often referred to as “forever chemicals,” are used in various industries and consumer products, including non-stick cookware and firefighting foam. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has linked workplace exposure to PFAS to cancer and other health effects.

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After the contamination was discovered, Hoosick Falls implemented a short-term filtration system, followed by a permanent one, operational since late 2016 or early 2017. Mayor Allen noted that efforts to secure a new water source involved collaboration with the state Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) and Department of Health (DOH), along with legal agreements requiring companies to explore alternative sources.

“Since that point, there’s been a push to get a new water source that eventually did happen through a lot of different steps with state DEC and state DOH involved legal documents and consent orders requiring the companies to consider different water sources,” Allen said.

The village board will vote on two resolutions: one to accept the new water source and infrastructure, and another to authorize the switch to the new source. “So by the end of the meeting tomorrow evening the village of Hoosick Falls will be on its new water source while maintaining its filtration system, which is the option that we have been advocating for four years and years,” Allen said. “We knew it was the best thing for a residence and we were glad that the state understood that and required the companies to do that.”

The special meeting is scheduled on Monday at 6 p.m. at the Hoosick Armory, and the community is invited to attend.