Friday marks one year since PFOA found in Poestenkill water

A Poestenkill council member is accusing the Department of Health of being no closer to finding a source of PFOA in the community’s water a year after the contamination was first discovered.

Eric Wohlleber said the state first became aware of the potentially dangerous chemicals in the well water of Algonquin Middle School one year ago Friday, January 7.

Since then, he said — out of 77 tests, 13 have come back above state safety standards. 45 have come back with measurable levels. Wohlleber said a dozen residents conducted private tests. 45 percent of those tests showed high or measurable levels, Wohlleber said. So far, no source has been identified.

Wohlleber is calling on the state to provide a list of potential sources, along with free well tests and drinking water to people who request it. He also wants the state to provide free blood tests to residents, and to dig monitoring wells near potentially likely sources of contamination.