Former Milford Water Manager Sentenced Over Sample Tampering
MILFORD (CBS) - The former Milford Water Company manager who tampered with test results during a boil-water order four years ago will not have to serve jail time.
Henry Papuga was sentenced on Friday to a suspended jail term and ordered to perform 20 hours of community service for his actions.
WBZ NewsRadio 1030's Lana Jones reports
Water Tampering Sentence
He was also ordered to never work in the water industry again.
Papuga had run the Milford Water Company for 27 years without incident when e-coli bacteria was detected in the public water supply during a heat wave in August of 2009.
Five days into the emergency, he poured bleach into some of the samples before sending them to the lab.
The high levels of chlorine extended the emergency another five days.
Papuga was fired and ultimately charged.
During the sentencing, Judge David Riccardone lamented Papuga for his reckless decision.
"(I'm) thankful that no one was seriously hurt or worse, which could have happened if his fraud reached its culmination," Riccardone said.
