City Eyes Sale of Clean Drinking Water to Durham Homes With Polluted Wells

After 30 years of contaminated well water in Durham, the city of Middletown is moving ahead with the plan for a supply system that would bring water to homes in the town center, according to the Middletown Press.

The Superfund Site is made up of a pair of large Main Street parcels owned by Durham Manufacturing and Merriam Manufacturing. In recent years, the soils at these properties were tested positive for contaminates, resulting from pollutants and chemicals that seeped into the grounds during the years before environmental laws were put into place.

Middletown expects the EPA will bear the brunt of any costs to taxpayers, according to the Press.

In September, Durham Manufacturing agreed to reimburse the state and federal governments $2.9 million for costs accrued from the removal of contaminated soil at the Durham Meadows Superfund site.

Durham Manufacturing will pay four separate installments of $725,000, plus interest, over the next four years, the first of which will be paid out within the first 30 days, the consent agreement detailed.

In addition, the company agreed to perform certain response actions at the site, estimated to cost approximately $1.1 million, the EPA said in a statement.

Last June, Durham selectman agreed to move forward with the design phase of a water supply system that would bring water from the city of Middletown to homes in Durham Center whose wells are contaminated.

"This has come about after many, many, many years of study," said First Selectman Laura Francis. "It's been determined that the city of Middletown water supply is the most cost-effective way to solve this problem."

The town has been looking for a clean water source since discovering water contamination at the former location of Merriam Manufacturing Company and Durham Manufacturing Company, both located on Main Street, more than a decade ago.

The EPA offers residents the opportunity to track the progress of the Durham Superfund clean-up including which contaminants are present at the site.