Two new wells are helping ease Fort Hall problems
(Fort Hall) - Two new deep wells have been dug on the Fort Hall
Indian Reservation where domestic wells were contaminated with a
potato pesticide.
Bureau of Indian Affairs engineer Sam Hernandez says the
underground plume of pollution is moving southwesterly and now
covers more than 64 square miles.
The two 400-foot wells were drilled east of Interstate 15
because hydrologists believe the area is outside the path of the
pollution.
Since no one knows how long the contamination will last, plans
are being made to develop a rural water system. The cost is
estimated at 23 (M) million dollars.
A storage tank was installed to serve the Fort Hall township,
and residents along the plume.
The U-S Environmental Protection Agency issued a ban on water
use in the Gibson area, causing an uproar from residents who were
told they couldn't use the water for drinking or cleaning. Water
was trucked in by tanker.
(Copyright 1998 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)
AP-NY-05-08-98 1051EDT