Rocky Boy's water supply contaminated

Monday, May 28, 2007  

The water system on the Rocky Boy's Reservation in Montana was contaminated by a chemical last week, causing a handful of illnesses.

Workers mistakenly poured a degreasing solvent instead of a hypo-chloride into the system on Tuesday. About 300 homes, or 70 percent on the reservation, were affected. Three people reported being sick.

The Chippewa Cree Tribe shut off the water on Thursday and began cleaning and recharging the system. But officials reported delays because residents were keeping their faucets running in hopes of flushing out the pipes.

The Environmental Protection Agency has been called in to conduct tests and help clean the system. It could be a week before some communities will be able to use the water again.

Get the Story:
Residents causing delay in reflushing system (The Great Falls Tribune 5/28)
Rocky Boy's residents urged to keep taps offt (The Great Falls Tribune 5/27)
Rocky Boy's water tainted by solvent (The Great Falls Tribune 5/26)
Mistake injects solvent in water (AP 5/26)