WATER SYSTEM HAS BEEN OUT OF COMPLIANCE WITH PRIMARY DRINK- ING WATER REGULATIONS ON VARIOUS OCCASIONS SINCE AT LEAST 1980. MOST SIGNIFICANT VIOLATIONS ARE EXCEEDANCES OF MAXIMUM CONTAMINANT LEVEL (MCL) FOR NITRATES. MERRITT ENTERED CONSENT DECREE WITH EPA ON FEB. 27, 1987. PURCHASED WATER SYSTEM IN 1987. SHORTLY AFTER EXPIRATION OF CONSENT DECREE ON SEPT. 30, 1988, MERRITT CEASED PAYMENT TO CON- TRACTOR HIRED TO PERFORM OPERATION AND MAINTENANCE. CON- TRACTOR RESIGNED FOR LACK OF PAYMENT. SYSTEM DETERIORATED- BECOMING ALMOST USELESS, THEN SHUT OFF BY MERRITT. END RESULTS ARE ALMOST IDENTICAL TO VIOLATIONS HE FACED IN 1987 U.S. DISTRICT COURT ACTION. 11/23/93 DOJ HAS ASSIGNED JOHN MOSCATO AS ATTORNEY.