February 20, 2013 THE VILLADOM TIMES II • Page 5 Area William Mowell, former chief engineer of the Ridgewood Water Company and a resident of Wyckoff, has been indicted for allegedly conspiring to hide elevated levels of an industrial solvent present in the drinking water of East Orange and South Orange, where Mowell worked as an engineer and assistant executive director for the local water utility. Charges have also been filed against Executive Director Harry Mansmann of Lawrence. State officials allege that after Mowell took a job with the East Orange Water Commission, he and Mansmann shut down contaminated wells several days before they tested the wells, in an alleged attempt to reduce the level of tetrachlorethane present in test samples, then restarted the wells after they took the water samples. Mowell and Mansmann are also accused of pumping water from the most contaminated wells in the East Orange system directly into the Passaic River for about a month in 2011. The New Jersey State Attorney General’s Office reports that Mowell and Mansmann falsified levels of tetrachlorethene to show that the drinking water met state standards when it did not. Experts from the state Department of Environmental Protection said the water was not dangerous to consumers based on the evidence presented so far. Mowell and Mansmann were indicted last week by a state grand jury in Mercer County on charges of conspiracy, official misconduct, a pattern of official misconduct, unlawful release of a toxic pollutant, tampering with public records, and violating the state’s Safe Drinking Water Act and the state Water Pollution Control Act. Conviction would carry a possible prison sentence of five to 10 years. Mowell lost his job with the Ridgewood Water Company, which supplies water to Ridgewood, Glen Rock, Midland Park, and Wyckoff, when 34 Ridgewood employ- Officials charged with concealing contaminants ees were laid off or encouraged to take early retirement due to budgetary concerns in 2010. Ridgewood Water Company officials said Mowell was not accused of any improprieties while working for Ridgewood. Mowell was not available for comment at press time. The detailed indictment signed by Stephen J. Taylor, director of the state Division of Criminal Justice, comprises 14 separate counts and was filed Feb. 12. At a recent ceremony, AAA North Jersey presented Glen Rock officials with an AAA Award of Merit. The AAA award gives recognition to communities with noteworthy traffic safety program activities. Glen Rock’s traffic safety enforcement and education program includes the use of a traffic safety message trailer, a program to assist residents with child safety seat installations, and the department’s strict enforcement of all motor vehicle laws. The Glen Rock Police Department is also very active in the borough’s schools when it comes to pedestrian safety. Pictured are Glen Rock Mayor John van Keuren, Glen Rock Police Officer Scott McGovern, Police Chief Frederick Stahman, AAA North Jersey Vice President James Dobi, and Captain John Miller. AAA honors Glen Rock