At a Thursday news conference regarding the “Do Not Consume” warning for tap water issued Wednesday to some Butte residents, officials from Butte-Silver Bow and Montana Resources told a courthouse audience that it’s essentially a waiting game.

B-SB’s Water Division is collecting samples but so far has not yet seen anything out of the ordinary, officials said.

Jim Keenan, water plant superintendent, said samples are also being sent to two independent Helena analysts.

Keenan hopes to have preliminary results later Thursday afternoon.

“We are responding thoroughly and appropriately,” said Keenan.

Mark Thompson, vice president of environmental affairs at Montana Resources (MR), said a cross connection was discovered Wednesday between MR’s process water, used for milling and mining purpose

See Full Page