[CPEO-MEF] Wilmington shuts well after finding chemicals

[CPEO Moderator <cpeo@cpeo.org>]

The following article was posted by Dori Digenti
<ddigenti@hampshire.edu>
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Massachusetts
Wilmington shuts well after finding chemicals
By VANESSA HUGHES, Sun Staff

WILMINGTON The Water Department has closed the Town Park well, and will
not reopen four other inactive wells, after a new test found trace
amounts of a carcinogen in the Maple Meadow Brook Aquifer.

Preliminary tests of water in four inactive wells near Olin Chemical
Corp.'s site on the south end of town revealed N-nitrosodimethylamine,
or NDMA, which causes cancer in animals and is considered a probable
human carcinogen.

And officials admit there is no way of knowing if the chemical was in
the drinking water when the wells were active.

The Town Park well, which had been active and is not near the other
four, did not show any NDMA, but was closed as a precaution, said Water
Department Superintendent Michael Woods. He said there is no NDMA in the
drinking water.

"We just don't want to take any chances," Woods said.

Full article:
http://www.lowellsun.com/Stories/0,1413,105~4746~1252530,00.html

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