Winslow Town Council delays vote on agreement with resident over well water dispute.
The agreement would release Caleb Albert from penalties for violating a setback requirement, while allegations of salt contamination against the town would be dropped.
The town’s code requires that structures maintain a 15-foot setback from the property line.
The town is entering into the agreement because the property is near its municipal salt and sand storage area, which is uncovered.
Albert paid to connect his house to the municipal water supply to avoid potential water contamination at the property.
The agreement says that, “considering the continuing violation of the Winslow Code’s setback requirement … but also mindful of the expenses incurred by the Property Owner” in connecting the lots to the water supply, the town agreed to waive its rights as long as Albert waived the right to claim the town owed him money.
In 2015, Cory Dow, who lives across from Albert’s properties, found that his well was contaminated with sodium and chloride, or salt.
In a water test from April 2015, the water in Dow’s well measured 2,800 milligrams of sodium per liter.
But the town government had its own study done, which suggested it was not at fault and that the contamination was probably caused by someone purposely pouring salt into the open well.
Another town-issued report completed over the summer of 2016 said the salt and sand pile was a potential source of the contamination.