Residents report extremely high bacteria levels in local creek; town asks village for update

Residents of the Red Hook area told the Town Board on March 26 that recent water testing found extremely high levels of bacteria in a small stream that feeds the Sawkill, and asked the board to press the village for answers.

Paul LaBarbera, a village resident, said a recent test dated March 20 detected enterococcus at “241,960 CFU per 1,000 milliliters,” where he said the EPA recommendation is 61. He said coliforms tested at “241,960 CFU per 100 milliliters” versus an EPA limit of 1,000, and E. coli at “52,471 CFU per [100 milliliters]” compared with the EPA guidance he cited. LaBarbera said the odor and magnitude of the problem have made neighbors avoid opening windows and have kept children from playing in areas they once used.

Melissa Barrick, who said she lives on Smith Street, told the board her children no longer can safely play in the area and urged action. A nearby property owner who identified himself as living at 60 Benner Road described a marked increase in flow, new channels and erosion over the past two to three years and said wildlife such as frogs have disappeared from the stream.

Board members and staff said the village operates the wastewater treatment plant that discharges into the stream. Supervisor McKeon said the village is aware of periodic episodes that produce odors and elevated test results, that the village’s treatment plant is the public facility responsible for the discharge, and that the town will seek an update from village officials “either later this week or at the beginning of next week.” McKeon added that the DEC will monitor compliance with the plant’s permit and that the town will not approve any sewer expansion until the plant is in compliance.

Those who spoke said Bard College assisted with sample collection and that samples were processed at a facility in Marlborough. Several residents said Bard and other local volunteers helped coordinate testing; speaker Mike McDonald was also identified as having helped oversee testing.

The board framed the matter as primarily within the village’s jurisdiction but said it shared residents’ concern and would press the village for more information and monitoring data. Town staff and board members referenced the need for the village to address periodic episodes and for any DEC follow-up enforcement if the plant is out of compliance.

Clarifying details from the meeting include the sampling date (March 20), the involvement of Bard College in sample collection and a laboratory in Marlborough for analysis, and the residents’ specific bacterial counts as presented to the board. Residents said they could not identify a single source and suggested possible septic or sewer plant failures; the village engineer and village officials were reported to be aware and investigating.

The board did not take formal action at the meeting other than to request an update from the village and reiterate that it would not support sewer expansion until compliance issues are resolved.

The town advised residents to look to village officials and the DEC for detailed monitoring results and enforcement actions.