Water declared safe for many affected by Jackson pipeline break

JACKSON -- After more than two months of using bottled water for drinking and to wash dishes, there is good news in Jackson.  The Department of Natural Resources has shrunk their bottled water advisory area, which will allow more than 100 homes to start drinking their well water again.

Residents were asked to drink bottled water after more than 50-thousand gallons of gasoline spilled into the ground following a pipeline break.  The line is owned by West Shore Pipeline.

On Friday, the DNR shrunk the advisory area to the following roads.

• Mill Road between Maple and Division Road/County Highway G

• Western Avenue between Maple and Division Road/County Highway G

• Division Road between Western Avenue and Mill Road

• Maple Road between Western and Sherman Roads

• Sherman Road form Maple Road to one-half mile East of Maple Road.
The news is welcome for Jackson residents Carl and Jan Holter.   "We just heard about that and we were just delighted that something like that has come through," says Jan.

The couple are both cancer survivors, and the thought that dangerous chemicals could leak in and make them at risk had them using provided water since July.  "we didn't care for the idea of having more carcinagins in the water.  So that wasn't to exiting," says Carl.

West Shore says they have cleaned up more than half of the spill, and have dug more than 80 wells to attempt to clean up the area where gasoline remains.

There is a public meeting on Monday night at 7:00 PM to discuss long term plans for a cleanup.  The meeting will be held at the Jackson village community center.