Town Battles State Over Salt Contamination
Thirty Nearby Water Wells Polluted
POSTED: 2:08 pm EST December 3,
2008
UPDATED: 6:28 pm EST December 3,
2008
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BOXFORD, Mass. -- Town officials escalated an ongoing battle with the state Wednesday, condemning a salt storage facility that has polluted the wells of dozens of nearby homes.The salt shed on Topsfield Road provides convenient access for state sanding trucks clearing the road of snow and ice on nearby Route 95. But that salt has seeped into the groundwater and contaminated the drinking water of nearly 30 homes in the area.
Watch Report“The sodium concentrations exceed state and federal safe water guidelines by 15 times or more,” Board of Health Chairman Richard Taylor said.Boxford has no public water system and all homes depend on private wells. The town posted a sign condemning the property, blocked access to state vehicles and filed suit against the state Wednesday.“Mass Highway has spent hundreds of thousands of dollars attempting to drill replacement wells, to buy residents new dishwashers, washing machines, hot water heaters to replace those appliances corroded by the extreme levels of salt contamination,” said Charles Costello, chairman of the Board of Selectmen.“Even some of the replacement wells are contaminated,” he said.The state immediately threatened legal action against the town, saying it had no authority to close a state facility."With winter looming, the Boxford depot is important to our snow-fighting efforts," said Luisa Paiewonsky, commissioner of the Massachusetts Highway Department.Paiewonsky said the salt shed operation is safe. "The Department of Environmental Protection has monitored our efforts and determined that MassHighway is in full compliance with applicable environmental regulations," she said.Monica Conyngham, General Counsel for department, said if the town persisted the matter would be referred to the Massachusetts Attorney General.
Watch Report“The sodium concentrations exceed state and federal safe water guidelines by 15 times or more,” Board of Health Chairman Richard Taylor said.Boxford has no public water system and all homes depend on private wells. The town posted a sign condemning the property, blocked access to state vehicles and filed suit against the state Wednesday.“Mass Highway has spent hundreds of thousands of dollars attempting to drill replacement wells, to buy residents new dishwashers, washing machines, hot water heaters to replace those appliances corroded by the extreme levels of salt contamination,” said Charles Costello, chairman of the Board of Selectmen.“Even some of the replacement wells are contaminated,” he said.The state immediately threatened legal action against the town, saying it had no authority to close a state facility."With winter looming, the Boxford depot is important to our snow-fighting efforts," said Luisa Paiewonsky, commissioner of the Massachusetts Highway Department.Paiewonsky said the salt shed operation is safe. "The Department of Environmental Protection has monitored our efforts and determined that MassHighway is in full compliance with applicable environmental regulations," she said.Monica Conyngham, General Counsel for department, said if the town persisted the matter would be referred to the Massachusetts Attorney General.Copyright 2008 by TheBostonChannel.com. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
