More Information On Alternate Water Source Report
By Doug La Rocque
A significant number of people turned out last Wednesday, October 23, for the PFOA Community Participation Work Group (CPWG) meeting at the Hoosick Falls Central School’s Auditorium. They were there to listen to representatives of the New York State Department’s of Health and Environmental Conservation (DEC), along with spokesmen for Saint Gobain and Honeywell, as they explained the theory, research and ultimate conclusions behind the five options the Department of Health will eventually choose from.
Those options were detailed in the October 25 issue of The Eastwick Press. A new piece of information is the proposed timetable for each option, running from less than a year to continue to using the current wells, two – three years for the new local wells option, and upwards of five to six years to pipe water in from the Tomhannock or tap into the City of Troy’s water supply.
The process now is to gather public comment, make any changes to the report the state department’s feel are necessary, and present it back to the public for more comment. After that, a final decision will be made.
According to DEC Chief of Staff Sean Mahar, there is no timetable for decision, saying instead, “we will take what ever time is necessary to determine what is the best choice for Hoosick and Hoosick Falls.”
Several residents questioned Mr. Mahar about DEC’s long term commitment to the Village and the Town, as it concerns not only the Village’s filtration system, but the filters placed on private wells in the area. Mr. Mahar answered them by saying “We are not going anywhere, we are here for as long as it takes to make sure everyone has clean drinking water.”
The Eastwick Press also spoke to newly appointed Village Trustee Emily Marpe, who said whatever option is eventually settled on, she wants the new water source to run through the current filtration system. “We were burned once, I don’t want to ever take that chance again.”