The roadside spring on Route 22 in Stephentown is no more. Following reports that at least seven people who drank water from the popular spring had come down with giardiasis (commonly known as Beaver Feaver), the Rensselaer County Health Department issued warnings and had signs put up by the New York State Department of Transportation (NYSDOT), which owns the property, that the spring was closed and the water was unsafe to drink. According to County Executive Kathy Jimino’s spokesman Chris Meyer, it was NYSDOT’s decision to demolish the spring and the County Health Department was informed of that only after the fact. Meyer did not know whether authorities at NYSDOT were advised on this by the State Health Department. A call to NYSDOT Region 1 Public Information Office was not returned by press time.
