A man draws water from a well in Puerto Rico that is part of a Superfund site.
One after another, people attached a hose to draw water for bathing, washing dishes and, in some cases, drinking.
The EPA has yet to identify the cause of groundwater contamination in the wells, and local water systems no longer draw from them.
In a single hour on Saturday, more than four families arrived at the unsecured Maguayo well to draw water.
The dozen officials, armed with kits, gloves and other materials to conduct tests, hastily reassembled the broken chain-link fence near the spigot and restored the “Danger” sign.
Recent local testing showed that contamination levels were below legal thresholds, but EPA spokesman Elias Rodriguez said the agency remains concerned about any residents drinking from wells that are part of the site.
Government officials have said it could be months before power is fully restored across the island, which means that it could take nearly as long to get water flowing to all residents in need. National Guard troops and aid workers only recently began reaching the most far-flung communities with bottled water and water trucks.
The health risks posed by water from the Maguayo well probably depend on the person, Rodriguez said.
Another EPA spokesman, Rusty Harris-Bishop, said government officials only recently learned that people were trying to get water at Superfund sites.