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2,000 Gallons of Oil Pumped into Maine School Septic System

WALDOBORO, Maine - A Maine school district is crafting a plan to remove hundreds of gallons of heating oil that were accidentally pumped into its septic system.

Steve Nolan, superintendent of Regional School Unit 40, said Friday that Maritime Energy pumped about 2,000 gallons of heating oil into a pumping station that connects the Medomak Middle School's septic tank with its leach field. Nolan says a contractor later removed about 800 gallons but the remaining oil is believed to be in the leach field.

Nolan says the school in Waldoboro uses well water and is not allowing anyone to use water fountains until a groundwater check is finished. He says the school is giving students and staff bottled water for now.

A Maritime Energy spokeswoman says the company "is taking ownership'' for the incident.