Media Release

For: Immediate Release
Date: January 19, 2002
Contact: Helen Drew 623-0397 (cell)

Pascoag Water Safe to Drink

Results of tests by the Department of Health meet drinking water standards

Results received today from samples collected by the RI Department of Health (HEALTH) indicate that the water in Pascoag is safe to drink, cook, and prepare food. All Pascoag residents can now resume their routine full use of tap water.

HEALTH’s lifting of the drinking and cooking restriction signals the end to an effort to restore clean, safe water to Pascoag residents. In early September 2001 officials found the water unsuitable for many household uses due to contamination by MTBE (MethelTertiary ButylEther), a gasoline additive. A final resolution of this problem required linking Pascoag residents to a new water supply in Harrisville.

To assure the cleanest and safest water HEALTH recommends that residents follow some simple procedures to flush old drinking water from their homes.

• Faucets/Taps - Any faucets or taps that have not been used during the MTBE water advisory should be flushed until a temperature change is detected to ensure that any contamination that may be present is removed. A temperature change indicates that the cooler, cleaner water from the distribution pipe in the street has reached the tap.

• Ice Makers in refrigerators - Run the ice machine for 24 hours; discard all of the ice; and wash and clean the bin area.

• Don’t Drain Heating Systems - Draining or venting of heating systems to remove MTBE is neither necessary nor recommended.

Information about the Pascoag water system situation is available at www.health.ri.gov.