WOODSTOCK – Janet Villacaro is smiling again.
“I’m so pleased with what (the state has) done for me,” said Villacaro in a recent interview at her home.
As reported last month, after living with bad water for almost two months, Villacaro began to do something she does not like to do – get mad.
A recent Maine Department of Transportation project to widen Route 26 in Bryant Pond had disturbed her water supply, requiring the state to drill her a new well.
State law mandates that the DOT remedy any upsets to water supplies caused by department operations.
The DOT drilled a new well for her in July, but the water quality was far below that of her original water supply. Recently, the DOT installed a water filtration system in her home to remove the high levels of manganese and iron that had made the new well’s water undrinkable and unsuitable for household use.
“Mechanically, the system is performing as designed and is effectively managing the elevated levels of iron and manganese present in the groundwater. A recent sample indicates that the water exiting the filtration system was satisfactory,” wrote Dwight Doughty, a supervisor in the DOT’s Environmental Office.
“I couldn’t be more pleased,” Villacaro said as clear water flowed from her tap. “My water is clean; I have no more stains.”
No longer mad, Villacaro is back to joking.
“My basement looks like a science experiment!” she said, pointing to the four shiny cylindrical tanks that comprise a system that separates out the contaminants and softens her water.
“And look what they did to my driveway,” Villacaro said, pointing out her window to new asphalt laid down to repair the damage from the well installation and hookup.
The DOT will even reseed a disturbed patch of her lawn, she said.
Villacaro praised DOT officials. “I couldn’t have asked for more pleasant people to deal with. (They were) always willing to answer questions.”
The department will continue to follow up to ensure the system operates properly, Doughty said.
“I almost feel as though they have overextended,” Villacaro said in a more serious tone. Then she chuckled, “They’ve been so nice; they make me feel kind of special.”
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