What started as a curiosity, understanding why his father died of kidney cancer, led to Michael Hickey uncovering chemicals in the town of Hoosick Falls’ drinking water.
“Our new leadership is doing a good job. The water has been tested for multiple years at non-detect,” said Hickey.
His research that began 6 years ago is the reason the current standards for clean drinking water have been set in New York. Testing became a requirement for the state last year after legislation was passed to regularly monitor levels of chemicals like PFOAs.
What You Need To Know
- August 26 marks one year since New York implemented new standards for clean drinking water
- A federal judge recently approved a $65 million settlement between Hoosick Falls residents and four companies accused of polluting the drinking water
- The settlement will reimburse lost home value, as well as cover expenses for medical monitoring for lingering health issues from the water
“We want our kids to have the best quality water; we don’t want them to run into these illnesses that are related to the lead or PFA chemicals that are found in some of these systems,” said Hickey.
One of those kids that Hickey is helping create a better future for is Eliana, 3. Her mother Emily Marpe grew up in Hoosick Falls, and eventually bought her dream family home in Petersburgh just a few miles from her hometown.
“And then my dream house turned into my worst nightmare,” said Marpe.
That’s because Emily’s exposure to the contamination led her to have thyroid disease. She explains that when Eliana was born, some of the highest levels of the chemical were detected in her bloodstream without ever drinking the water.
“This last checkup, I had her thyroid tested just to be on the safe side, and so I have base levels. So throughout her life, she will be getting her thyroid checked,” Marpe said.
She says no mother should have worry about their child’s health when it comes to the basic necessities like clean drinking water.
“My children are my everything. You have children so they can be the best version of you,” Marpe said. “And to have that cut short because drinking water is crazy.”
While the settlement will bring some financial reward, it will never bring back the victims’ health.
“I’ll never [look at] water the same way ever. It’s not like I woke up one day and was fine because there was a filter. I’m not fine,” Marpe said. “It’s still in my blood. It’s still in my organs. It’s in my children. It’s going to be there for a very long time. I’ll never forget.”