Highlights of the Elk River Chemical Spill in West Virginia
On January 9, 2014, a leak was discovered at the Freedom Industries chemical storage facility in West Virginia.
It is estimated that this spilled 10,000 gallons of a chemical mixture called MCHM used in the production of coal.
Crude MCHM was released into the Elk River upstream from the main water intake, treatment, and distribution center for the area, affecting water supplied to 300,000 West Virginia residents.
The hundreds of thousands of people without potable water spanned nine counties in the metropolitan area of Charleston, West Virginia.
West Virginia American Water gradually began lifting its do-not-use warning for drinking water four days later.
Though this was not the first chemical spill in the Kanawha River valley, it has left a lasting impact on residents.
The smell of crude MCHM could be detected days after the spill and dozens of people reported health issues related to chemical exposure.
Areas of Concern for Citizens and Drinking Water Prior to this spill, there was no standard process for testing the toxicity of MCHM in water.
Therefore, questions regarding how dangerous this diluted chemical was to breathe or drink went unanswered.
The Federal Emergency Management Agency quickly arrived to deliver clean water.
In the meantime, the office of U.
S.
Attorney Booth Goodwin opened an investigation of the spill.
Though the leak was initially estimated at 7,500 gallons, this figure increased during the days immediately following the incident.
MCHM is one of the 64,000 chemicals grandfathered as part of the 1976 Toxic Substances Control Act.
Therefore, no entity is required to prove its safety.
Officials stressed that the coal industry, a major revenue generator, was not to blame for the spill.
Latest Incident Reissues the Call for Clean Drinking Water This chemical spill has attracted national attention to the cleanliness of drinking water.
Rather than relying on local, state, or federal regulations, Americans can take matters into their own hands.
Online research is a quick and easy way to locate water polluters within a given state.
Every city or town in the country is required to make publicly available a consumer confidence report or municipal water report that indicates the type and level of harmful chemicals and toxins in the local water supply.
Filtering drinking water is smart even if water seems healthy.
Bathing in contaminated water can be harmful, so bath water should also be filtered.
If the water system has not been used for at least six hours, it should be flushed by running the faucet or shower for a minute.
Periodic at-home water testing is recommended to verify the safety of the household water supply.
It is estimated that this spilled 10,000 gallons of a chemical mixture called MCHM used in the production of coal.
Crude MCHM was released into the Elk River upstream from the main water intake, treatment, and distribution center for the area, affecting water supplied to 300,000 West Virginia residents.
The hundreds of thousands of people without potable water spanned nine counties in the metropolitan area of Charleston, West Virginia.
West Virginia American Water gradually began lifting its do-not-use warning for drinking water four days later.
Though this was not the first chemical spill in the Kanawha River valley, it has left a lasting impact on residents.
The smell of crude MCHM could be detected days after the spill and dozens of people reported health issues related to chemical exposure.
Areas of Concern for Citizens and Drinking Water Prior to this spill, there was no standard process for testing the toxicity of MCHM in water.
Therefore, questions regarding how dangerous this diluted chemical was to breathe or drink went unanswered.
The Federal Emergency Management Agency quickly arrived to deliver clean water.
In the meantime, the office of U.
S.
Attorney Booth Goodwin opened an investigation of the spill.
Though the leak was initially estimated at 7,500 gallons, this figure increased during the days immediately following the incident.
MCHM is one of the 64,000 chemicals grandfathered as part of the 1976 Toxic Substances Control Act.
Therefore, no entity is required to prove its safety.
Officials stressed that the coal industry, a major revenue generator, was not to blame for the spill.
Latest Incident Reissues the Call for Clean Drinking Water This chemical spill has attracted national attention to the cleanliness of drinking water.
Rather than relying on local, state, or federal regulations, Americans can take matters into their own hands.
Online research is a quick and easy way to locate water polluters within a given state.
Every city or town in the country is required to make publicly available a consumer confidence report or municipal water report that indicates the type and level of harmful chemicals and toxins in the local water supply.
Filtering drinking water is smart even if water seems healthy.
Bathing in contaminated water can be harmful, so bath water should also be filtered.
If the water system has not been used for at least six hours, it should be flushed by running the faucet or shower for a minute.
Periodic at-home water testing is recommended to verify the safety of the household water supply.
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