With Health in the Balance, Time to Launch
Statewide “Drinking Water Quality Council”
Albany – More than 500 days have passed
since residents of Hoosick Falls learned their water was contaminated with a
likely carcinogen and unsafe to drink. Yet Governor Cuomo and legislators
failed to fund a new water source in the state’s recent $150+ billion budget.
However, a “slush fund” of at least $450 million is now available within the
$2.5 billion Clean Water Infrastructure Act from the Enacted Budget which
residents called on the state to draw from in order to connect Hoosick Falls
with a safe drinking water source.
Residents also called on the Governor and legislators to take action to help
protect communities statewide from contaminated drinking water by announcing
their appointments to the new statewide Drinking Water Quality Council, a body
created following the crisis in Hoosick Falls which will help the Department of
Health (DOH) set water contamination safety standards continually going forward
for communities across New York.
The appointments should be highly independent experts who, immediately upon
convening the council, will act to provide recommendations on emerging
contaminants for the DOH to regulate, residents noted.
Cathy Dawson, an operating nurse, said, “I see firsthand the fear people experience
when a loved one gets sick. I share their fears. It’s now been more than 500
days since we were told ‘don’t drink the water!’ Governor Cuomo has been saying
for a long time that if the federal government doesn’t act, he will. Here is
his opportunity – the state budget created a special slush fund to help
communities like ours gain access to clean, safe drinking water. Let’s use it!
There is more than enough money available right now to connect our community to
a new water source that will alleviate our fears and give our community a sense
of normalcy when we turn on the tap.”
Michele Baker said, “At every single step of the way, it is our families, our
friends, and our neighbors, who fought back to ensure state government did its
job. Our community did the testing that discovered PFOA. Our community forced
government to respond. Our community held our own state Senator accountable in
2016 for trying to kill legislation we and all of New York State needed. Here
we are once again. Other communities just like ours are in crisis right now.
Many just don’t know it yet. Governor Cuomo and state legislators must convene
the Drinking Water Quality Council so we can all get to work reining in the
unregulated chemicals putting our drinking water in danger.”
Silvia Potter said, “Governor Cuomo says, ‘New York is once again leading the
nation with this bold investment to strengthen the infrastructure of our water
systems.’ We need him to not forget those of us who live just 40 miles from the
Capitol. I want to have trust in our government again. Governor Cuomo can right
the wrongs we’ve endured by drawing from the $450 million available to give us
clean water!”
Jennifer Plouffe said, “My parents helped find my dream home. A place I closed
on the day the crisis in my new community was announced. What’s so upsetting is
that I know others are making life decisions like this every day, in
communities in every corner of this state. They may very well be in the same
situation I am in. We are fighting for our community, but we’re also fighting
for every community. We need our new water source, and we need the water
council to get to work. The longer the state waits, the longer people are in
danger. Water is life.”
Michelle O’Leary, a mother of two, said, “Days before the budget was completed,
I stood in the Capitol with my daughter and neighbors ‘serving’ legislators
‘crisis water.’ This is our life now, educating New York’s public officials
about the basic obligations state government should fulfill like drinking water
that doesn’t make us sick. Governor Cuomo has a great opportunity. While the
budget did not designate a nickel for our clean water source, the money is
available to do it. Let’s make it happen, Governor!”
Funding for New Water Source
In the Enacted Budget, $2.5 billion was allocated for clean water programs.
However, Governor Cuomo and state legislators failed to specifically designate
any of those funds for connecting the village of Hoosick Falls with an
alternate water source that is not contaminated. Nonetheless, two separate
slush funds within the $2.5 billion leave a total of $450 million for the
Governor to allocate as needed, such as a new water source for Hoosick Falls.
It has been quoted that the cost of switching to a new water source could be estimated
at $25 million.<http://www.politico.com/states/new-york/albany/story/2016/03/hoosick-falls-confronts-poisoned-wells-and-an-uncertain-future-032864>
Drinking Water Quality Council Appointees
New York’s Drinking Water Quality Council was established in the Enacted Budget
and, once formally convened, will identify emerging contaminants that pose a
threat to drinking water. The council is currently awaiting appointees which
are to be named by the Governor, Assembly, and Senate, as well as designated
seats for DOH and DEC.
Liz Moran, water & natural resources associate for Environmental Advocates
of New York said, “The state’s record of investment on clean water issues is,
in many ways, a testament to the residents of Hoosick Falls. They have never
given up fighting for their community, and have bravely fought to establish new
protections for every community across the state. We want to see the Governor
and legislators now take the next step, ensure funding is directed where it is
most needed, and to take the long-view on protecting our drinking water in New
York by chipping away at the more than 80,000 unregulated chemicals on the
market today.”
Source:
Environmental Advocates of New York
