Hoosick Falls Activates New Water Source, Marks Major Milestone in Village's Recovery from PFOA Contamination

HOOSICK FALLS - The Village of Hoosick Falls marked a historic milestone on Monday, March 31st, with the official activation of its new permanent water source. The ceremony, held at the Hoosick Armory, celebrated the completion of the new water infrastructure, which will provide a reliable drinking water supply for the village’s 4,500 residents.

The event was attended by local and state officials, including Acting DEC Commissioner Amanda Lefton, NYS Department of Health Commissioner James McDonald, State Environmental Facilities Corporation Executive VP Michael Hale, Hoosick Falls Mayor Rob Allen, and Mayor-Elect Dan Schuttig. The event also served as a Special Meeting of the Village Board of Trustees, where they officially accepted the new water wells, pump house, and infrastructure.

A Decade-Long Journey

The activation of the new water source marks the culmination of a process that began nearly a decade ago, after the discovery of PFOA contamination in the village’s drinking water. The contamination originated from past industrial operations at the Saint-Gobain McCaffrey Street State Superfund site.

“Concluding this journey that began 10 years ago will be a major point in our Village’s great history. We have once again shown that our community is hard-working, resilient, and able to rise up and achieve great things,” said Mayor Rob Allen. “A new water source and a permanent filtration system, financed by the responsible parties, is a historic and unprecedented response to PFAS water contamination, and will serve as an attainable goal for future communities.”

The $5.5 million project was funded through a $45 million agreement between New York State and the companies responsible for the contamination—Honeywell and Saint-Gobain. The project involved constructing approximately 6,800 linear feet of water transmission line to connect the new wellfield to the village’s water treatment plant. Construction began in May 2024 and concluded earlier this year.

New Water Source

The two new wells are located about a mile away from the village’s original water source. Once pumped, the water travels along the new transmission line to the village’s existing Water Treatment Plant, where it undergoes treatment, including Granular Activated Carbon (GAC) filtration.

“These new wells have consistently tested non-detect for PFOA and PFOS. However, extremely low levels of two PFAS compounds have been detected,” Mayor Allen explained. “The two compounds, PFBA and PFNA, have been detected in single digits of 7 and 3 ppt.” The presence of these compounds underscores the village’s insistence that the GAC Filtration System remain in place and that the responsible companies continue to fund its operation.

According to Mayor Allen, “The findings of these minuscule levels demonstrate the wisdom of the Village’s insistence that the GAC Filtration System remain in place and that the companies bear the cost for the operation of that system.”

State Support and Community Collaboration

Governor Kathy Hochul acknowledged the achievement, stating, “The Hoosick Falls community is a national example of strength, resiliency, and collaboration in meeting an extraordinary challenge, and the milestone reached today will ensure clean drinking water for generations of residents. My administration remains focused on holding polluters accountable for fully cleaning up contamination in Hoosick Falls and providing record investments to help support other communities to ensure drinking water protection across the state.”

Acting DEC Commissioner Amanda Lefton called the project “a new chapter for this community” and part of the state’s “extensive, science-based efforts led by DEC and DOH in collaboration with Mayor Rob Allen, Supervisor Mark Surdam, Rensselaer County, and the Community Participation Working Group.”

State Health Commissioner Dr. James McDonald also praised the collaborative effort, saying, “Under the leadership of Governor Hochul and thanks to the collaboration of the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation, the Department of Health, and our local partners, the Hoosick Falls community has a permanent, safe and reliable water source. The Department will continue to collaborate with our partners to monitor and prioritize public health and to ensure that safe drinking water is available to this community for years to come.”

Transition of Leadership

Monday’s event marked one of Mayor Rob Allen’s final acts in office after choosing not to seek re-election. Trustee Dan Schuttig was elected as the new Mayor in mid-March, defeating Trustee Doug Sauer in a closely contested race.

Town of Hoosick Supervisor Mark Surdam acknowledged the village’s journey, stating, “We are grateful for New York State’s continued focus on addressing PFOA contamination in the Hoosick Falls area to ensure our drinking water is safe and hold the responsible companies accountable for paying for the cleanup.”

Looking Ahead

The ceremony concluded with a symbolic switch-over to the new water source, a moment celebrated by the village’s leadership and residents alike.

While the new water source represents a significant victory, officials emphasized the importance of continued monitoring and maintenance to ensure water safety. New York State remains committed to ongoing remediation efforts, including maintaining point-of-entry treatment systems for individual homes in the surrounding area.

Following the activation of the new water source, community response on social media has been mixed. Some residents expressed skepticism about the safety of the new water, citing past contamination and expressing reluctance to drink from the system. Others raised concerns about the ongoing presence of trace PFAS compounds and questioned whether the water would be suitable for daily use. There were also questions regarding whether the new system would reduce water bills, which Village officials clarified would not be affected. Additionally, some residents planned to independently test their tap water to assess quality, while others expressed gratitude for the completion of the project.

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