Water continues to be the area's biggest story, with a drought and continued drinking water news throughout the Hudson Valley. Kenneth C. Crowe II reports in The Albany Times-Union that test results show seven of 20 water wells tested in Petersburgh contain the carcinogen PFOA, Rensselaer County officials announced July 20. Perfluorooctanoic acid has been found in the water there and in Hoosick Falls in Rensselaer County recently, and the state Assembly and Senate, and House of Representatives plan hearings on the PFOA contamination this fall. Meanwhile, in Newburgh, Scott Waldman reports in Politico that while thousands of Newburgh residents may have been exposed to a toxic chemical in their water supply, but the state plans to conduct blood tests are unclear. City manager Michael Ciaravino recently asked to the state Department of Health to test Newburgh residents.