WATERFORD, N.Y. -- Assemblyman Roy McDonald listens as Waterford leaders worry about water. They want the town’s drinking water during the Environmental Protection Agency's Hudson River dredging project to come from Troy and they want the EPA to pick up the $600,000 tab.
"It's not fair to say to people use a polluted supply of water, or open up your wallets in difficult economic times so you have safe affordable water," said Waterford Town Supervisor John Lawler.
Waterford, the Town of Halfmoon and the Mechanicville School District want to buy their water from Troy. The city doesn't use the Hudson as a drinking water source. But the EPA says that is not necessary because it’s going to monitor the water to make sure it is safe for drinking.
The war over where Waterford gets its drinking water during the Hudson River never seems to end. As Curtis Schick reports, the man who wants to be Bruno is weighing in.
"Something that I find outrageous is that the EPA, the federal government, does not recognize the impact that this is going to have on these local communities," said Roy McDonald, State Assemblyman from Saratoga County.
McDonald's Assembly district includes a stretch of the Hudson, but not Waterford. It is in Joe Bruno's senate district that he, along with three democrats, Michael Russo, Joanne Yepsen and Brian Primo are eyeing this November. Still, McDonald says this isn't a partisan issue, it's an economic issue.
"They are going to have a negative impact, from Fort Edward, to Schuylerville, to Mechanicville right down the river," said McDonald.
McDonald said he is meeting with Troy Mayor Harry Tutunjian about the water next week.