Employee allegedly made alcohol in pumping station

GROTON, Mass. -- A Groton water department worker is accused of making Moonshine at the Baddacook Pumping Station in Groton.

In a press release issued last Monday, the Groton Town Manager wrote that the town received a complaint in October that a water department worker was distilling alcohol at the pumping station. Police are still investigating the matter.

A nearby winery showed 7News how a commercial still works:

“The alcohol is going to start to vaporize and climb up this tower here all through these holes. After it’s turned into vapor, it’s brought through that tube over to our cooling power,” said K.C. Kelly, Nashoba Valley Winery.

But, the Town Manager said the device used by the water department employee was "smaller than a bread box," likely helping it go unnoticed at first.

“I’m trying to take 75 gallons up to 188 degrees – this guy in Groton is probably trying to take 3 gallons up to 188 degrees, so he could be using an electric heater element, a propane cook stove,” said Kelly.

Experts say a pumping station would be the perfect spot for a homemade still - providing the constant supply of water needed to complete the distilling process.

“At home, you’d be basically dumping that water right back down the drain. Basically running up your water bill. This guy at the waste water department probably had the situation where he could take the cold water, use it for his purpose, and send it right back into the town’s system,” said Kelly.

Town Manager Mark Haddad told 7News at no time was the water supply compromised. He said state police analyzed a sample from the homemade distiller and found it contained alcohol. The employee was then put on paid leave pending the outcome of the investigation but has since retired.

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