The village of Pascoag has a population of just over 5,000 people. It is one of several small villages situated within the town of Burrillville in northern Rhode Island.

Located approximately 25 miles from Providence, Burrillville is a predominantly rural town that arose as a mill town during the industrial revolution. With the end of the dominance of the mill industry, the town became a mainly residential community. In the town of Burrillville, the median household income is $52,587 (1) .

The town of Burrillville is governed by a town manager (Michael Wood) and the town council (President: Wallace F. Lees). The town includes the villages of Pascoag, Harrisville, Mapleville, Nasonville, Oakland, Mohegan, and Glendale. Each of these villages has their own water supply system. The two largest villages, Pascoag and Harrisville, have water districts.

The Pascoag Utility District (PUD) is the water supplier for the village of Pascoag.

It is a quasi-public agency, controlled by a board of directors (elected by the ratepayers) and operationally run by a general manager (Ted Garille). The Harrisville Fire Department is the water supplier for the village of Harrisville, and is governed by its own board of directors.

Pascoag is dependent on groundwater for its water supply. Before February 2001, one well, Well 3, supplied all of Pascoag's water. In February, a new well, 3A was brought online to increase the water supply capacity and establish a redundant source of water. This well is situated about 10 ft from Well 3 and was drilled about 10 feet deeper. According to Mr. Garille, Well 3 was drawing water from the shallower soil aquifer, while 3A drawing water from the deeper bedrock aquifer. (Both would become contaminated with MTBE-consult the timeline for further information.)

The Main St. Mobil station, the only gas station in Pascoag, was located about 1700 feet from the well area.

April 2002 July 2002

Operated by Robert S. Potter, Potter Oil, and Medea LLC and owned by Robert and Mary Ellen Lavardiere, the station has a poor history of compliance with DEM underground storage tank regulations. Mr. Potter operates other gas stations throughout the state. A station he owned in Warwick had a release from an underground storage tank in 1998 that leaked gasoline into a wetland area..

1. 2000 US Census. Accessed July, 2002.

http://www.riedc.com/aboutri/census_2000/ProfilePDFsRI/0604400711800.pdf.