ArchivesSeptember 7, 2001MTBE updateTests were completed yesterday on the fourteen monitoring wells located near the District's well fields. The results of these tests were inconclusive in determining the direction of the MTBE contamination. The test results did, however, show that the MTBE levels in the monitoring wells are well within EPA acceptable limits. On Thursday and Friday, testing continued in other areas throughout the village. The results of this sampling will be available shortly. Hopefully, the results of this series of tests will enable Pascoag to determine the source of the contamination. Pascoag Water Department, the Department of Health, the Department of Environmental Management, and Lincoln Environmental have been working diligently over the past several days to develop a comprehensive plan to deal with the MTBE situation Short term, mid term, and long-term plans are being put into place. In the short term, the most important element is to determine the source of the contamination. This is already well underway, with the series of testings that have taken place over the past several days, and will continue throughout the weekend. In order to facilitate this, a portable lab has been set up in the District to analyze water samples from the test wells. Pascoag Water Department and Harrisville Water Department are studying the feasibility of opening an interconnection valve between the two systems, allowing Harrisville to pump water into Pascoag's distribution system. This will require a back flow protection valve to be put into place. The State of Rhode Island has committed $20,000 to this project, however, the cost of the valve is estimated at $50,000. Water continues to be available at the Harrisville Fire Station. Pascoag residents are asked to bring their own containers. Our web site, www.pfd.org, is updated on a regular basis, and has links to the EPA for additional information. For your convenience, we have listed information on the State's Congressional Delegation.
Updates on the MTBE situation will continue on a regular basis. Customers of the Pascoag Water Department can call the District office at 568-6222 with any questions, or call the Rhode Island Department of Health at 222-2231 with any health related questions. |
Archives:2007 Articles
2002 Articles2001 Articles
1997 Articles |