LISBON — An “accidental release” of arsenic Wednesday has prompted Lisbon officials to continue a do-not-drink order for all residents on town water, and the Lisbon Water Department was making bottled water available to residents, according to city officials and information in two Water Department Facebook posts Friday. The order does not apply to households with private wells.

From 7:30 a.m. to 7:30 p.m. the Lisbon Emergency Response Team will be at the Lisbon Public Works Department, at 14 Capital Ave., giving out one case of water per household. People are asked to turn onto Capital Avenue from Route 196 where they will be directed to a loading area at the front of the building entrance. Residents are also encouraged to pick up water for those affected who do not have transportation.

“Our supply is limited and will be available on a first come, first served basis,” according to a Water Department Facebook post. “… We will continue to seek additional resources to meet the need of our residents. We appreciate your patience.”

A steady line of cars pulls up Friday to the Lisbon Public Works Department as Parks and Recreation Director Mark Stevens helps pass out cases of water. Daryn Slover/Sun Journal

It is unclear exactly how many of the roughly 2,500 connections to the town’s public water system were possibly exposed to the arsenic contamination, according to interim Water Department General Manager Shellie Reynolds. The Water Department is expecting to get some water tests back Friday afternoon and will make more announcements at that time.

Reached Friday morning, Reynolds said she could release no additional information about the source of the arsenic or its spread in the system.

Maine CDC issued a press release Friday afternoon stating that it is responding to “the release of sludge from the Lisbon Water department into the town’s public drinking water system.” Maine Department of Health and Human Services did not immediately respond to an email Friday afternoon asking how the sludge was released into the public water system.

Maine CDC’s Drinking Water Program and the Lisbon Water Department took drinking water samples Thursday afternoon to test for arsenic contamination, according to the Maine CDC press release. The testing is being expedited. Results will be posted on the Drinking Water Program website. The federal limit for arsenic levels in public water systems is 10 parts per billion.

The sludge itself is also being tested to identify the level of arsenic concentration, which will help estimate the level of exposure during the release period, according to the statement. Those test results are expected to come back next Wednesday.

Some customers have been experiencing brown water issues going back several days and the town has flushed some lines to clear that up, but Reynolds stated that she could not confirm that the brown water is connected to the arsenic contamination as of Friday morning.

Last year’s annual water testing results for contaminants found that the town’s arsenic levels — dated Dec. 5, 2023 — were at 15 parts per billion, which is higher than the 10 parts per billion federal limit, according to the report. All other contaminants were below federal limits. Reynolds stated Friday afternoon that those previous test results and Thursday’s do-not-drink order are not connected, and said information on both would be addressed at a later time.

The Water Department is working with the Maine Center for Disease Control and Prevention to protect those who might have been exposed to high levels of arsenic and to determine when the water will be safe to consume again, according to a Facebook post on the Water Department’s page.

The town is also working with the Water Department and Maine CDC to address the contamination concern, Town Manager Glenn Michalowski said Friday.

“Our top priority is the safety and well-being of our residents,” he said. “While I cannot speak on behalf of the Water Department — whose operations are managed by the general manager and water commissioners — I want to assure you that we are in constant communication with them, utilizing the resources we have available to assist in any way they may need. Our local emergency management team has been activated, and we are collaborating with county, state, and local partners to respond effectively to this situation.”

In the meantime, the Water Department is directing people not to consume the water at all. Boiling it will not make it safer, according to the Water Department’s Facebook post.

The water can be used to bathe, wash dishes or water the yard, according to the Facebook post. Residents should run their faucet if it is discolored until it becomes clear.

Arsenic exposure can cause nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, stomach bleeding, brain swelling, fast or irregular heart rhythms, low blood pressure, unconsciousness or death if ingested in water or food, or absorbed through an open wound, according to the Water Department’s Facebook post.

Pregnant and lactating people should avoid exposure to any water contaminated with arsenic, according to Central Maine Medical Center OB GYN Medical Chief Tasha Duval.

There is some evidence that inhaled or ingested arsenic can injure pregnant people and unborn babies, even leading to low birth weight, fetal malformations and fetal death, she said citing information from the Center for Disease Control and Prevention. Arsenic can also be found in fetal tissues and low levels can be found in breast milk.

People are encouraged to call poison control at 800-222-1222 if they have any concerns about arsenic exposure. The Water Department encouraged people to seek medical help if they develop any unusual signs or symptoms within 24 hours after consuming water containing high levels of arsenic .