DES: Water-quality report mixed up

A case of bad water at Brackett’s Point with two conflicting water tests, an ex-tenant’s story, and a former selectman that warned of problems at the site years ago. The Department of Environmental Services now says a mix-up caused it to send a letter to a Brackett’s Point tenant stating her water was contaminated with sewage. The DES Subsurface Bureau, said lab tests actually revealed the drinking water was clean. The mistake occurred with a mix up at the lab with reports taken from Great Bay, which revealed high levels of fecal matter and E. Coli, and the resident’s tap water. But the former tenant’s independent tests show her water was contaminated, though not to the levels previously thought.

According to tests by Microbac Laboratories in Scarborough, Maine, the resident’s drinking water had a total coliform level of 2,100 particles and 560 particles of E. Coli. A water pollution chart used by DES considers a coliform level between 240 and 2,400 particles per 100 milliliters of water as unsafe for drinking and bathing. The U.S. Public Health Service standard for suitable drinking water is 1.05 particles per 100 milliliters.

Independent airborne mold and bacteria tests of the resident’s cottage also revealed staggering levels of bacteria. According to Desmaris Environmental in Barrington, the levels of fungal colonies in one test of the air inside the bathroom were too high for the machine to read. Another bathroom test showed 625 colonies of airborne fungal bacteria, where safe levels range from 200 to 400 colonies. These results are an indication "of a malfunctioning septic system allowing sewer gases to infiltrate the home through sink and shower drains," the lab report states.

The Bracketts said that they are working on designs to replace all of the property’s septic systems, although so far none of these plans have been seen. The Bracketts have also said they have clean drinking water tests for all of the cottages. A previous Brackett's Point resident and townspeople that say they suspected problems at the site have also contacted the former tenant, who began to suspect water problems after ongoing sickness.

Former selectman Eve Fralick said she tried to get DES down to Brackett’s Point in 1999. She said she became alarmed after discovering a 1987 agreement between Tom and Alison Brackett and selectmen before she was on the board that allowed the Bracketts to convert their seasonal cottages to year-round use without obtaining building permits or state and town approval for septic work. "DES at that point told me that because no one filed a complaint, they had no reason to step in," Fralick said this past week. "It’s absolutely shameful that it took contamination and a potential damage to someone’s health for someone to step in," she said. Fralick did commend DES for its actions since the contamination was found. She said she hopes the department and Greenland officials will continue to evaluate the septic situation.

Source: EPA