Tainted Water on Fort Peck Indian Reservation

A faulty pipeline has cut off the water supply to about two dozen homes in a contaminated area of the Fort Peck Indian Reservation.

An underground plume of contamination from oil production lies below the 23 homes north of Poplar. In 2004, the Environmental Protection Agency ordered three oil companies to build the water pipeline from Poplar's water supply to those homes.

Fort Peck environmental program manager Deb Madison says the pipeline has been out of service since May 13 and residents are without water. Madison says there have been dozens of breaks in the line since its 2005 installation.

EPA spokeswoman Lisa McClain-Vanderpool says her agency is working with state officials to determine whether the line was improperly constructed or if there is another reason for the failure.

Story from The Associated Press