The Hoosick Falls community is reflecting on the first water quality hearing on the PFOA contamination, and is looking ahead to the next one.
The hearing Tuesday at Hoosick Falls High School included testimony from state and local leaders, along with several residents.
People like Michael Hickey shared stories about how loved ones died from cancer potentially from drinking the water for years. Hickey is credited with discovering PFOA in the water when he started researching his father’s battle with cancer.
"This has never been about just me and my family," said Hickey. "It's always been about who my dad was. He was all about the kids on the bus and the community as a whole."
Other residents also testified on concerns that illnesses they have are linked to PFOA. They asked lawmakers to pass bills to protect them and help them with sicknesses.
"There was no indication of a statewide action plan," said environmental activist Liz Moran. "We didn't hear anything from either the DEC and DOH about what steps they were going to take going forward to make sure this wasn't going to happen again, to make sure that everything is being taken care of in these communities with pollution. That was disappointing."
The Assembly and state Senate will hold joint water quality hearings next Wednesday at the Capitol.