EPA Tells Wyo. Residents Not to Drink Water

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency recommended that several Pavillion, Wyoming-area residents with private water wells find alternate sources of water for drinking and cooking, according to the Casper Star-Tribune. The recommendation applies to at least 20 water wells.

EnCana Oil and Gas USA, which operates oil and gas wells interspersed throughout the farm and ranch community, has agreed to provide funding to a third party, which will provide treatment or an alternate source of drinking water. However, details are not yet worked out.

The health concern is based on high sodium and sulfates that EPA officials believe are naturally occurring in the groundwater, as well as the detection of petroleum compounds that officials believe shouldn”t be in the groundwater.

The Casper Star-Tribune reports EPA officials have not yet determined the source of the petroleum hydrocarbons, but they plan to make that determination in the agency”s ongoing investigation. The EPA and other federal officials have spent the past few days with Pavillion-area residents explaining their analysis of what”s in the water and the potential health implications of continued consumption of the water.

For the Casper Star-Tribune”s full report on this story, click here.