Governor Hochul Announces Start of Construction of New Hoosick Falls Water Supply

Governor Kathy Hochul today announced construction is starting this spring on a permanent water transmission line to provide a new water source for the village of Hoosick Falls. The project is part of a 2023 agreement between New York State and Saint-Gobain and Honeywell to implement the new water supply and address perfluorooctanoic acid contamination from historic industrial operations at the McCaffrey Street facility and other sites in the village.

“No community should have to question the safety of their drinking water, and we're continuing to make important investments to protect New Yorkers and ensure companies are held accountable for industrial contamination," Governor Hochul said. "This milestone brings us closer to healing the community in Hoosick Falls and marks another step in our ongoing commitment to address pollutants."

The project to secure a permanent water supply for the village involves constructing approximately 6,800 linear feet of raw water transmission line between a newly developed wellfield and the village of Hoosick Falls water treatment plant. Construction activities will be performed by Honeywell and Saint-Gobain and overseen by the New York State Departments of Environmental Conservation (DEC) and Health (DOH). The water transmission line construction activities are expected to begin in May 2024 and last approximately seven months.

This new water supply distribution system is part of the State’s ongoing efforts to address PFOA contamination from the Saint-Gobain McCaffrey Street Superfund site. DEC worked closely with the community to evaluate water supply options and ensure the new groundwater source was located outside of the contaminated aquifer and fully compatible with the water treatment plant’s capabilities. The granular activated carbon (GAC) filtration system the State required the responsible parties to install on the village’s water treatment system to remove PFOA will remain in use to further safeguard the system.

Department of Environmental Conservation Commissioner Basil Seggos said, “From the first days of my tenure at DEC, we have worked hand-in-hand with the Hoosick Falls community to address the contamination, protect public health, and hold the polluters accountable for cleaning up their mess. The start of construction of this new drinking water source is a critical milestone for this community and the result of extensive, science-based efforts by DEC, DOH, and the Hoosick Falls community. DEC is grateful for our many partners in this work, including Mayor Rob Allen, Supervisor Mark Surdam, members of the Citizens Participation Working Group, school district officials, Rensselaer County, and many others. I also applaud our team of DEC and DOH experts who worked hard to secure this outcome for the Hoosick Falls community and continue to lead the nation in responding to the threat of emerging contaminants.”

State Health Commissioner Dr. James McDonald said, “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 people in this community are getting a safe, clean 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 the Hoosick Falls community for years to come.”

State Response to PFOA Contamination in Hoosick Falls

In 2016, PFOA was detected in the village of Hoosick Falls' public drinking water supply and town of Hoosick private drinking water wells above the federal Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) health advisory level at that time of 70 parts per trillion (ppt). The presence of PFOA in groundwater is linked to past manufacturing sites in the Hoosick area. PFOA is part of a group of compounds called per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS). Under DEC oversight, the companies installed a GAC treatment system at the village water treatment plant to eliminate the community's exposure to PFOA contamination and undertook additional response actions as described below.

In 2021, DEC issued the Saint-Gobain - McCaffrey Street Record of Decision (ROD) to provide a permanent water source to address PFAS contamination in the village water supply. As part of the State's commitment to ensuring residents in the Hoosick Falls village water system continue to have access to clean and reliable drinking water, DEC's ROD incorporates findings from the Municipal Water Supply Study and public comments received on the State's Proposed Remedial Action Plan to select a groundwater source outside of the contaminated aquifer, in addition to the continued use of the GAC.

In a $45-million agreement with DEC in 2023, Saint-Gobain and Honeywell are required to implement the new water supply for the Hoosick Falls village water system that serves approximately 4,500 people. The estimated cost for this phase of construction and implementation is approximately $5.5 million. The agreement also holds the companies accountable for $30 million in past costs incurred by state taxpayers, $5 million in natural resource damages and future costs related to operation and maintenance of the new water line and GAC filtration.

The GAC treatment system installed in 2017 removes PFOA and other PFAS from the drinking water supply. Additionally, DEC installed and maintains hundreds of point-of-entry treatment systems for individual homes in the surrounding area, including in the town of Hoosick. DEC continues to require Honeywell and Saint-Gobain to identify and address the sources of PFOA contamination in this community.

Hoosick Falls Mayor Rob Allen said, “Construction of the new water transmission lines to our new water supply is an important step and major milestone for the Village of Hoosick Falls. We are very grateful for the work done by the Departments of Environmental Conservation and Health and Governor Hochul and her office. It stands as a shining example of a unified effort, linking our community together with local and state government, to develop a new water source and to respond to the PFOA contamination. Everyone involved should be very proud of the work done thus far.”

Town of Hoosick Supervisor Mark Surdam said, “Since the discovery of PFOA contamination in water wells in 2016, New York State has been a constant presence in our community, helping to answer questions and address concerns of residents while taking immediate steps to ensure our drinking water is safe. We appreciate the support and commitment of New York State, including Governor Hochul and the Departments of Environmental Conservation and Health, who have made protecting the health of Hoosick families a priority.”

DEC and DOH will continue to provide Hoosick area residents with information and updates regarding ongoing remediation efforts. In addition, State agencies continue to engage the Hoosick Area Community Participation Work Group to discuss the progress of the PFOA cleanup. Additional information and documents regarding state actions underway in the Hoosick Falls area are available on the DEC website.