BOXFORD, Mass. -- Town officials continued a battle with the state Wednesday, condemning a salt storage shed that has polluted the wells of nearby homes.
The MassHighway salt shed is located at Exit 52 off Interstate 95 North, and it is used to store salt for the state's highways.
Town officials condemned and barricaded the shed for health reasons. They said that for years, salt has seeped into the groundwater and contaminated the drinking water of at least 30 homes in the area.
"We see it as a health hazard, and under the laws of Massachusetts, if a board of health presumes a health hazard, we have the right to remove that health hazard," said Richard Taylor, Chairman of the Boxford Board of Health.
The state disagrees with their decision to close the salt shed.
"We have found in the past that there was some leakage of salt and have actively worked to address it," said Luisa Paiewonsky, Commissioner of the Mass. Highway Department.
State health officials said the contamination is minimal.
Boxford is the only town where all residents have private wells and many people have not been able to drink the water or bathe because they break out in rashes.
Town officials filed a formal lawsuit against the state on Wednesday.
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