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MAY 1 START DATE FOR CONSTRUCTION OF DIXFIELD'S DRINKING WATER WELL

Release Date: 04/08/1997
Contact Information: Alice Kaufman, EPA Press Office, (617) 918-1064

Boston - An agreement signed last week by the New England office of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and the town of Dixfield commits the town to begin construction of a groundwater well for its drinking water on May 1, 1997, complete construction by November 30, 1997, and pay a $10,000 penalty for violating a previous federal administrative order.

To safeguard public health from waterborne diseases, the federal government required one of two alternatives for providing safe drinking water to all citizens: either construct a water filtration system for surface water sources of drinking water or develop a groundwater well to serve the community. Dixfield's water is drawn from Aunt Hannah Brook, a surface water supply, and in the past there have been reported cases of giardiasis - a water borne disease. Officials in the Dixfield decided in 1994 to develop a groundwater well to replace Aunt Hannah Brook as a water source.

Now more than two years behind the schedule contained in the EPA's 1993 order to the town, EPA and Dixfield have agreed to a new schedule to ensure that Dixfield citizens will have a consistent supply of high quality drinking water.