HAMILTON, Mass. -- The Town of Hamilton has issued a warning to residents that their water may be tainted with a potentially hazardous chemical.
Hamilton drinking water tested positive for high levels of perchlorate.
John Tomasz, Director of Public works in Hamilton, warned pregnant women, nursing mothers, children, and people with thyroid problems should not to drink the tap water. He also said residents should discard any beverage or ice prepared with tap water in recent days.
While two recent tests have determined the water is safe, the no-drink order for children and pregnant and nursing women will be lifted only after six consecutive days of clean samples. The advisory will be in effect until Wednesday and testing will continue each day.
The town of Millbury was dealing with a similar problem. It was forced to shut down one of its wells after detecting unsafe amounts of the chemical. Readings of perchlorate from Aug. 20 were five times the state limit. Their water was deemed safe Monday.
Perchlorate is used in explosives and rocket fuel. Exposure to the chemical can cause, among other things, impairment in physical development, behavior, movement, speech, hearing, vision, and intelligence, according to DEP.
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