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In response to the unsafe drinking water in the Sipayik Passamaquoddy community, WPHW has led and continues to lead providing community members with clean drinking water.
What we know is that Boyden Lake has been the main water source for many years and also undrinkable for many years. Public notices of water quality and monitoring non-compliance have been issued, many of these notices were for Trihalomethanes and a similar group of organic chemicals called halo acetic acids. Along with discoloration and odor, the community has avoided drinking the water.
This water source will have a filtration system, Carbon filtration system. In working with the Sipayik Passamaquoddy Tribal leaders and lawyers, WPHW will work in partnership with the State of Maine to fund the cost of this filtration system.
About 2015 the Passamaquoddy Tribe at Pleasant Point acquired a piece of land in the town of Perry which abuts the tribal reservation. On this property, there is a 180-foot deep water well that was drilled in 2006. The well yields between 20 and 30 GPM. In 2020 this well was given the name “Samaqannihkuk” (translates to water place). Winter weather and lack of funding have put a stop to the work on this well. Work will resume in the spring of 2021 if funds are available.
Water quality at the local public water utility (Passamaquoddy Water District formerly known as Eastport Water Co) has been problematic and for many years questionable. There have been a number of boil-water orders issued warning residents that the water may be unsafe to drink and may cause health problems if consumed without boiling.
The tribe decided that the Samaqannihkuk water well on the newly acquired property should be evaluated, developed and opened up for public consumption if the well water can pass the water testing requirements as mandated under the Maine Drinking Water Program.
Ed Bassett, a Sipayik Community member, has worked towards getting the Samaqannihkuk Water Well Site fully operational. “We need to have a secure place for our water.”
Lisa Sockabasin; Cyril Francis; Newell Lewey; Ed Bassett; Plansowes Dana; Esther Mitchell
“Our purpose is for the Community to secure clean drinking water”
Additional Resources:
https://mainebeacon.com/tribal-leaders-seek-to-end-decades-long-ordeal-bring-clean-water-to-pleasant-point/
https://mainebeacon.com/dirty-water-causes-our-communities-to-lose-sight-that-they-are-worthy-of-clean-water/
