I am writing in response to Sen. Tom Saviello’s letter “Get the whole story,” concerning water quality in the Androscoggin River (Aug. 5).

I agree with Sen. Saviello that the Sun Journal didn’t tell the whole story but, unfortunately, neither did Sen. Saviello.

Curiously, the senator didn’t mention that Gulf Island Pond, just north of L-A, regularly fails to meet Maine’s lowest water quality standards; or that any water quality improvement is aided enormously by the 54,000 pounds of oxygen injected into the river every day during summer. This Band-Aid approach, rather than strong pollution discharge reductions, was lobbied for by the Verso paper mill, where Saviello was an environmental manager.

Saviello also neglected to note that during each of his 8,000 one-minute daily segments, Verso paper mill discharges more than 4,000 gallons of pollution into the river.

The Sun Journal did leave out one point — those who do swim in the Androscoggin River likely have no other choice. Anyone who can afford to swim somewhere else does so.

The Androscoggin River Alliance fought to upgrade the water quality classification of the river. The local economic benefits would have been enormous. Was the process of reclassifying the river hijacked by lobbyists for the two industries that monopolize every aspect of the Androscoggin, paper and hydro-power, over the best interest of the citizens in the valley?

Only those with access to the governor’s office can tell.

Yes, senator, let’s all please tell the whole story.

Neil Ward, Leeds

Executive director, Androscoggin River Alliance