Massive Leak At Former WCW

by Bea Peterson
Hoosick Falls Water Department Supervisor Jim Hurlburt was concerned late Monday afternoon, January 16, when water in the Rensselaer Street tank began dropping rapidly. “It was about 5:30, and water usage usually increases about that time,” he said. “But this was far too much water. It was about 800 gallons a minute.” Hurlburt dreaded having to drive around the Village looking for the leak. “I was relieved when I got the call from the County,” he said.
[private]Apparently someone at the Oak-Mitsui plant located behind the former WCW factory on Mechanic Street noticed water coming out of the back of the closed up building and called 911. Hurlburt said he was finally able to shut water off to the WCW plant, but it also shut the water off at Oak-Mitsui. He was able to get water back to Oak-Mitsui the next morning.
Hurlburt and Hoosick Falls Fire Chief Robert Bornt estimate that there was five to six feet of water in the back bay warehouse. Bornt said it was like a swimming pool. Hurlburt said once the back doors were opened the water gushed out.
As the building is currently empty, the heat has been turned off, and the water lines drained. It’s believed the pipe near the shutoff valve froze and cracked causing the massive leak.
At this point there is some disagreement about who owns the building. Rensselaer County believes it does not yet have ownership of the building. Deputy County Executive Chris Meyer said the County Attorney has all the information on the County’s lack of ownership. If that is the case, it means the building and the liability still belongs to WCW.[/private]