SHAHEEN, AYOTTE, KUSTER: EPA WILL EXTEND ACCESS TO ATKINSON WATER MAIN, PROVIDE RESIDENTS WITH SAFE DRINKING WATER

Continuing their efforts on behalf of Atkinson residents, U.S. Senators Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH) and Kelly Ayotte (R-NH) and Congresswoman Annie Kuster (NH-02) announced today that the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) will extend access to the Atkinson water main to the residents of Deer Run Road, thereby giving all residents in the impacted neighborhood an opportunity to connect to a safe drinking water supply. The town of Atkinson has been struggling for the last several years with the contamination of 1,4 Dioxane – a chemical solvent with hazardous effects – in the drinking wells of 44 homes. 

“This is great news for Atkinson residents,” said Shaheen, Ayotte and Kuster in a joint statement. “Reliable access to safe drinking water is of critical importance. The EPA’s decision to extend the water main will help ensure Atkinson is protected from harmful chemical contaminates.”

In the EPA’s announcement today, the agency declared they would “extend the Atkinson water main from the intersection of Deer Run Road and Oak Ridge Drive to the end of Deer Run Road. This adjustment provides all residents in the impacted neighborhood with an opportunity to connect to a safe drinking water supply." 

In December, Shaheen, Ayotte and Kuster called upon the EPA to connect additional households in Atkinson to a new water main. Their effort followed an EPA meeting in Atkinson where residents were informed that only select residents would be connected to the local public water system.

“The Selectmen and the town are pleased with EPA’s decision to extend the water main down Deer Run Road,” said Bill Innes, Atkinson Town Administrator. “We are thankful for the work of Senator Shaheen and the delegation and the EPA for helping to make this happen.”