The Rensselaer County Department of Health reports two more wells located to the south and southeast of the Algonquin Middle School in Poestenkill, have tested positive for PFOA contamination above the state-permitted level of 10 parts per trillion. According to the press release, seven sites were tested in this second round of sampling, which showed three had levels of PFOA below the state-permitted level, one was non-detect, as was a second tested in the Algonquin Estates area. A third round of sampling is currently underway, with the sites being tested mostly to the north and the west of the school.
The two new positive tests bring the total number with contamination above state-permitted levels to four, not including the school itself, which also tested slightly higher than permitted.
The County’s Public Health Director Mary Fran Wachunas says “We received results for the second round of testing Thursday afternoon and provided this information as soon as possible to the residents. We continue to test wells in the town and continue to seek the source of this contamination. Residents should know the county is working cooperatively with the state and the town to provide an effective response to this issue. Residents can call our office at 518-270-2632 if they have additional questions.”