BURNHAM—Oil found in a well last week came from a sump pump used to supply the home.

Peter Blanchard, oil and hazardous waste specialist for the state's Department of Environmental Protection, confirmed Monday that the contamination was not a deliberate act.

"We believe the oil came from the sump pump," Blanchard said. "When we opened up the casing of the pump it was full of water."

The pump is typically lubricated with a light mineral oil, which is consistent with the oil found in the well, Bart Newhouse, an oil and hazardous waste specialist, said last week when he first examined the well at Stanley Hunt's home on North Horseback Road.

Newhouse has since cleaned the well with a strong soap, Blanchard said. The DEP is still waiting for results of a test to determine if the water is safe to drink.