HOOSICK FALLS — On Saturday in Hoosick Falls 100 people had blood samples drawn from New York State Department of Health workers. Health Commissioner Dr. Howard Zucker says the blood will be tested for the presence of PFOA. “They’ll have their blood drawn for PFOA levels and that information will be mailed back to the person whose blood sample was taken and they can speak to their doctor or someone in our department,” Dr. Zucker said. Of the 800 people who have signed up for the free test, 100 were seen on Saturday at the Armory on Church Street. One of them was lifelong Hoosick Falls resident Marie Davock. “I wanted to see how high the count was,” Mrs. Davock said.

State Director of Operations Jim Malatras was at the Armory to tell residents that the state will install water filtration systems in the home of any Hoosick Falls resident who wants one. “The governor will provide emergency funding through the superfund which we will recover from the companies to provide free water filtration systems for every homeowner in the town if they so choose,” Mr. Malatras said.

Basil Seggos, Acting Commissioner of the Department of Environmental Conservation, told residents the state is looking for a long term solution to the Hoosick Falls water problem. “We will look for a clean and permanent source of drinking water for the village; it might be a surface water supply, it might be clean ground water, it could be enhanced filtration or it could be a combination of all of those,” Mr. Seggos said.

The blood testing will continue until all of the residents who signed up have their blood drawn. Officials with the Department of Health and the Department of Environmental Conservation will be at the Armory on Church Street in Hoosick Falls next Tuesday and Thursday from 2-8pm. Interested residents can inquire at that place and time about the free water filtration system.

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