Well tests show coliform and E. coli near Blackhead Mountain project, town told

Oliver Hull presented the Town Board with lab results that showed both Total Coliform and E. coli in water samples taken from two properties on Blackhead Mountain Road.

Hull said the wells were tested after residents reported changes in water quality. "The testing indicates that the water tested for both Total Coliform and E. Coli," Hull told the board and added that the source of the contamination is unknown. He told the board he believes the contamination began around the time that test drilling and what he described as "hydro fracking" began at a nearby project on Blackhead Mountain.

Hull said the town did not have baseline tests prior to residents noticing the change; testing has been done only after complaints. He reported that a single laboratory test costs about $235 and recommended continuing targeted tests while the town coordinates with the state Department of Health and the Department of Environmental Conservation.

The board did not record a formal motion or vote on containment or remediation during the meeting; minutes record the presentation and that town staff will continue communications with DOH and DEC. Residents' reports of changes in water quality were recorded in the minutes but were not tied to a specific testimony with a full public-comment record.

The report raises a potential local public-health concern because Total Coliform and E. coli in drinking water can indicate contamination that may pose health risks. The board's next procedural steps, according to the minutes, are continued well testing, possible additional sampling, and follow-up with state agencies to determine a source and recommended remedies.