Second Round of Testing for PFOA/PFOS in Poestenkill Finds Two New Samples in Residential Properties
A second round of sampling of properties in Poestenkill for PFOA has been concluded, with two new properties found to have levels of PFOA above state-permitted levels, county officials announced on Friday.
The results were finalized on Thursday afternoon and prepared for public release on Friday. The second round of testing results was announced as a third round of testing is now underway.
The second round of testing was conducted from sites located to the south and south east of the middle school. The seven sites registered samples that show one non-detect, three had detections of PFOA/PFOS below the state maximum contaminant level standards for public drinking water, and the two that registered levels above the state maximum contaminant level of 10 parts per trillion (ppt). An additional sample was collected from the Algonquin Estates areas was non-detect for PFOA/PFOS.
All property owners have been contacted and provided with information regarding their samples.
For the two homes with levels above the state MCL, the state Department of Environmental Conservation will be providing bottled water while a home treatment system is installed.
– Testing started after PFOA/PFOS was discovered during state-mandated testing for PFOA/PFOS at Algonquin Middle School earlier this year.
– The county has to date conducted samples for 17 private wells, with four wells tested at or above the drinking water standard of 10 ppt for either PFOA/PFOS. These four include the two announced today.
– Four wells have been found to have detections of PFOA/PFOS below the drinking water standards and will likely be resampled in the future.
– Nine wells were non-detect for either PFOA/PFOS.
– Data shows the detections are primarily to east and south east of the school.
– No source for the contamination has been determined during the two rounds of testing.
– The lack of a source has restricted the ability for wide-spread testing.
– The third round of testing has been started and is being conducted mostly in the north and west of the school.
– Town officials have been informed, along with state Department of Environmental Conservation and the state Department of Health.
“We were received results for the second round of testing yesterday afternoon and providing this information as soon as possible for residents. We continue to test wells in the town and continue to seek the source of this contamination,” said Public Health Director Mary Fran Wachunas.
“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,” added Wachunas.