MAINE PUBLIC • May 22, 2023
A Monday morning fire at a Waterville public housing complex has led to a do not drink water order for the Kennebec Water District. The district covers Waterville, Winslow, Fairfield and Benton. The fire department responded early Monday morning to reports of a fire at Elm Towers. Channel 8 reported that one person died and others were injured as a result. But the do not drink order stems from fire fighting foam entering the district's water distribution system. General manager Roger Crouse said first responders pumped the foam into the complex's fire suppression system. But the complex did not have a backflow prevention system to keep the foam from entering the water service.