NYS DOH Confirms PFOA in Petersburgh Water Supply at Levels Just Below Recent EPA Advisory

State Directs Taconic Plastics to Provide Town with Bottled Water

State Hotline Set to Answer Residents' Questions - 800-801-8092

The New York State Department of Health (NYSDOH) has confirmed levels of Perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) in water samples collected from the municipal water supply of Petersburgh. NYSDOH sampled the Town's water after being notified by a local business -- Taconic Plastics -- that groundwater at their facility in Petersburgh was contaminated with PFOA.

Preliminary results of the Town's water supply show PFOA levels of 93.3 parts per trillion (ppt) at one well and 95.9 in a sample of finished water. The most recent US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) advisory level for PFOA in drinking water is 400 ppt, but EPA Region 2 has indicated that residents of nearby Hoosick Falls should not drink water with levels at 100 ppt or more.

Taconic Plastics is the closest potential source of the PFOA contamination, and although the levels detected in the Town's supply are below the current federal advisory level, NYSDOH and the NYS Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) requested, and Taconic agreed, that the business will provide residents with bottled water. Residents can get free bottled water at the Petersburgh Town Hall, 65 Main Street, tomorrow , February 21 from 12 noon to 4 pm, and on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays from 9 am to 1 pm and Saturdays from 10am to 12 noon .

NYSDOH and DEC were recently notified of the contamination by officials at the Taconic facility and immediately visited the site to review groundwater sampling results. As part of its review, NYSDOH collected samples at the Petersburgh Water District, which were analyzed at NYSDOH's Wadsworth Center.

NYSDOH has set up a hotline to answer residents' questions about PFOA at 800-801-8092 (Monday – Friday from 9am to 8pm and Saturday from 9am to 3pm). DEC is conducting further analysis to determine the extent of the contamination in the Petersburgh area and will be developing an appropriate remediation plan to address the contamination at the Taconic Plastics facility.

Governor Andrew Cuomo announced on Thursday the creation of a statewide water quality rapid response team that will address contamination issues and protect the State's water supply as well as public health. The team, co-chaired by the Commissioners of NYSDOH and DEC, will coordinate the State's response to water emergencies, enhance New York's clean groundwater and drinking water programs, and address the complicated issues surrounding contaminants that are not regulated by the Federal EPA. The team will review regulations and procedures and present an action plan to the Governor.