Saint-Gobain PFOA spill in Granville's Indian River

GRANVILLE, N.Y. (NEWS10) — On July 5, a firefighting foam spill occurred at the Saint-Gobain industrial material manufacturing facility in Granville, Washington County. Down by the riverside foam was still evident on Friday. 

“The power went off and it triggered their Intel system on some of their chemical tanks. And it created this foam which overflowed the containment center. And it trickled into this little drainage ditch that basically drains the whole back ditch of the drainage area in the back of the factories and consequently runs into the Indian River" said Village of Granville Mayor Paul Labas.

The mayor credits the company for it's prompt response.   

“St. Gobain has been very upfront, very forward, very transparent about working with the town and the village….DEC is working very well with us as well as the Department of Health to find out really how much was spilled, what is the impact to our area, and the impact to any of the soil if any," said Mayor Labas.

The spilled foam contains PFOAs known as forever chemicals which have been linked to cancer. The Department of Public Safety tells residents not to fish or swim in the area where the Indian and Mettawee Rivers meet. But Granville’s drinking water is safe — how so?

“Because we have our well that's well north. They are testing all the way down through the Metawee. When you get outside the village people are on well systems within the village they go through a water treatment plant water treatment facility and it's monitored daily,” said Labas.

Overall for Labas, preserving river quality is paramount. 

"They're very used a lot for swimming. Recreational all the way down. It's a beautiful spot to come so naturally we don't want to see it polluted, poisoned in any way," Mayor Labas said.

Water testing continues for well users North of Granville, a full DEC report is expected next week. Anyone with any questions is asked to contact the DEC.