Published in the Asbury Park Press
By MARGARET F. BONAFIDE
STAFF WRITER
TOMS RIVER -- United Water Toms River's explanation that activating a well with elevated radiation levels was safe for its customers last night did not convince two of its strongest critics who are on the Dover Township Committee.
United Water representatives said that with two wells down for repairs last week, unseasonably hot temperatures and a lengthy period of limited rain, the utility decided to turn on well 20 on Indian Head Road.
During the past 4 1/2 years, well 20 has been used sporadically because of the elevated levels of naturally occurring radiation.
However, George Flegal, United Water general manager, and Ulysses Diaz, the company's public relations representative, said the committee and public should understand that well 20 water meets drinking water standards. And when it is added to the overall water system, the occurrence of the radiation is significantly reduced.
Democratic Committeemen John F. Russo Jr. and John M. Furey rejected the explanation and were critical of the water company. They repeated their call for the shutdown of wells near the toxic plume from the Reich Farm Superfund site, which seeped into the parkway well field off Dugan Lane, a mile south of Reich Farm.
Furey also criticized legislation introduced by the 10th District legislators that would provide funding to add carbon filtration systems on three wells, 20, 24 and 44.
The legislation would appropriate $2.25 million for the filters and fund it from a corporate business tax.
Furey said the legislation is "a Band-Aid on a bigger problem."
Ralph Hahn, a legislative aide for Sen. Andrew Ciesla and Assemblymen James Holzapfel and David Wolfe, all R-Ocean, said the legislation was drafted after meeting with representatives from the Citizens Action Committee on Childhood Cancer Cluster and representatives from United Water.
Committee members asked Flegal and Diaz to make an adjustment to the notification system uses when activating wells that are normally not used.
Diaz said the state Department of Environmental Protection mandates that the water company notify the DEP that they are turning on a well. Diaz said he would work out a process where the Township Committee is notified.
He also said he had called to notify the township out of courtesy and left a message with a "young woman" who answered the telephone in the mayor's office.
Published on May 10, 2001
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