Package Causes Water Scare: UPDATE ON SUSPICIOUS DUMPING IN RESERVOIR IN CONNECTICUT RESERVOIR

FOX NEWS HARTFORD CONNECTICUT/CTNOW.COM ^ | 03/26/02 | By COLIN POITRAS, Courant Staff Writer

[RaceBannon]

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 CONNECTICUT

Package Causes Water Scare March 26, 2002 By COLIN POITRAS, Courant Staff Writer MIDDLEFIELD -- State and federal authorities were thrown into high alert Monday after a man was seen tossing a suspicious package into Middletown's public water supply off Route 66. The package - described as a bound plastic bag - was quickly recovered by state police divers and sent to a state lab for testing. Preliminary tests showed it contained an unidentified "starchy" substance that is not considered a health threat, Middletown Mayor Domenique Thornton said. More tests on both the package and the water supply are planned for today. Thornton assured residents their public water is safe to drink. "The water supply has been secured," State Police spokesman Sgt. Paul Vance said Monday night. "There are no contamination concerns whatsoever." The plastic bag, recovered about 15 feet from shore, did not show any signs of punctures or signs that it leaked, he said. Middletown officials immediately shut down the filtration plant at the Mount Higby Reservoirs after state police alerted them to a possible contamination threat at about 5:30 p.m. The reservoirs, although located in Middlefield, are owned by Middletown and serve as a backup water supply for all of the city's 44,000 residents, including thousands of students at Wesleyan University and hundreds of juvenile delinquents housed at Long Lane and the new Connecticut Juvenile Training School. The city's water system was drawing directly from the city's main underground aquifer as an extra precaution Monday night. Thornton said that system will remain in place until all the testing is done and the reservoir filtration plant is turned back on. There was no interruption of water service at any time Monday, officials said. A passing motorist called police at about 5:30 p.m. after seeing a man pull off the road and toss something into the south side of the reservoir, Vance said. The report immediately sent local, state and federal officials into full alert. Investigators with the FBI, state police, state Department of Environmental Protection and state Department of Public Health descended on the scene. Middlefield firefighters, water department officials and Middletown and Meriden police also responded. Monday evening, a state police helicopter used an infrared imaging camera to scan the woods and shores of the reservoirs on the Middletown-Middlefield town line, but found nothing. "Since 9/11, we are exercising due caution and any incidents involving a public water supply or watershed are going to be the subject of a full criminal investigation," Vance said. Authorities were still looking for the man who tossed the package late Monday night. He was last seen driving a dark, full-sized car with tinted windows, police said. Word of the possible water contamination spread quickly in Middletown on Monday night. While some officials and residents quietly criticized authorities for not alerting people sooner, Middletown Fire Chief Robert Ross said he was comfortable with the way the incident was handled. The city recently installed new fencing around parts of the reservoir in order to improve security, but it apparently did not prevent the man from tossing the plastic bag into the water. Courant Staff Writer Stephen Busemeyer contributed to this story.

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[RaceBannon]

Good News, it wasn't some biohazard!

[RaceBannon]

Bump

[copycat]

it wasn't some biohazard

How do we know this?

[mewzilla]

I still wonder. You been by a reservoir lately? We've driven by a couple. You can't miss the security. I sure wouldn't go near one. Unless this guy, the dumper, is a loon, then why would someone go up their to dispose of something you could flush down a john?

[Judith Anne]

I wonder too. White starchy substance? Wrapped in a package? What the heck?

[LoneGOPinCT]

CT Bump!

If any one would like to be removed from my CT Bump list, please let me know and it will be done ASAP. Conversely, if you would like to be added the same holds true.

[Miss Marple]

Unless this guy, the dumper, is a loon, then why would someone go up their to dispose of something you could flush down a john?

Testing the security, just like the terrorists on the plane from LA that James Woods saw. I think they do trials until they have perfected their attack method.

[Judith Anne]

Dang!

[Glutton]

The rivers in the Nutmeg state contaminated? LOL! Anyone downwind of many of them know about that already.

It is common knowlege that if you wind up in many of them, you'd better have your shots updated.

In any event, I'm glad this was a false alarm.

[mewzilla]

You've got a point. All I know is that I still remember that the DOT told CNN's Major Garrett right after Richard Reid was caught that the guy was NOT a terrorist and WAS acting alone. That didn't pass the smell test then and this doesn't now.

[TomGuy]

Preliminary tests showed it contained an unidentified "starchy" substance that is not considered a health threat, Middletown Mayor Domenique Thornton said. More tests on both the package and the water supply are planned for today.

So, any unidentified "starchy" substances should never be considered a health hazard...but further tests should always be performed---just in case somebody is wrong?

How do complete idiots get elected to positions!

[mombonn]

How do complete idiots get elected to positions!

Look at the vast majority of voters, and you'll have your answer.

;-)

[mewzilla]

And preliminary tests showed that it was an unidentified starch substance...

What prelim tests were those, I wonder? And where were they done? And by whom? The locals, who I suspect may be in way over their heads (if this was anything nasty)?

[FreedomPoster]

look at the electorate

[2Trievers]

Latest news says there was no hazardous material in the box. More tests being done. Rte. 66 passes right through/over it. Looks like a pretty vulnerable res to me.

[LoneGOPinCT]

Latest news says there was no hazardous material in the box. More tests being done.

No worse than what the MDC dumps in the river on a regular basis in this neck of the woods. Keep your mouth shut when swimmin' downstream!

[McGruff]

Thanks for the update, hopefully it's just instant potatoes or something.

[2Trievers]

"No worse than what the MDC dumps in the river on a regular basis in this neck of the woods. Keep your mouth shut when swimmin' downstream!"

I don't want to even think about it! My River is cleaner but I'll be sure not to fall out of my canoe/kayak without a wetsuit and updated immunizations! My "northerly" neighbors are bound to do me in! Thanks guys! &;-)

[Dales]

Good news bump.

IN RESERVOIR IN CONNECTICUT RESERVOIR

Paging the department of redundancy department. ;-)

[LoneGOPinCT]

look at the electorate

While not a Middletown resident, I do know it fairly well. It is your typical CT city with the ususal problems. With it's typical democRAT control.

It was a bit unsettling to hear that "we don't know what it is but there is not any immediate health threat." How the hell do they know that if they don't know what it is???

Anyway, I guess it is a secondary reservoir that is not currently in use. Plus, Middletown is the hometown of Wesleyan, so there are enough libs in residence to more than insure stupidity in City Hall. Something which the native locals are all too willing to accept.