Lab test shows no water contamination at mill

BUCKSPORT — Officials at the Champion International Paper Co. reported Wednesday that test results from a Winslow laboratory concluded that there has been no contamination of the mill’s drinking water supply.

“The results from the Northeast Laboratory of Winslow show that the water is completely free of biocide contamination,” said Seth Kursman, public affairs director at Champion. “Obviously, we’re quite pleased with the results since it was our position that no contamination had ever occurred.”

The company spokesman said the laboratory had analyzed the water samples for traces of industrial chemicals down to a level of 10 parts per billion and was unable to identify the presence of any dangerous substances.

Investigators with the Occupational Safety and Health Administration, however, are expected to continue their own analysis of the water at Champion as part of an investigation at the mill.

On Monday, employees in several areas of the mill were notified of the possible contamination of the drinking water after company officials posted several drinking fountains with warning signs.

Kursman said the possibility of a problem with the mill’s domestic water line was discovered at 9 a.m. Saturday after some pipefitters noticed that a biocide system, used to clean bacteria out of the plant pipes, had accidentally been connected to a flushing line which in turn was connected to a potable water line.