According to officials, a foaming agent used in the coal preparation process, leaked from a tank at Freedom Industries and enter the Elk River, Thursday morning.
The leak was stopped, but an unknown amount of the chemical entered the water supply of Charleston and the surrounding area.
Boone, Cabell, Clay, Jackson, Kanawha, Lincoln, Logan, Putnam, and Roane counties are affected.
Residents are warned to avoid tap water, and only use it for toilets.
Boiling will not removed the chemical from the water and showering or washing in it would cause exposure.
Restaurants and other food based services have been told to close, unless they use bottled water.
Many stores, in the affected area, are already out of bottled water, with more being rushed in.
At this time, it is not known how long it will take to completely flush the chemical out of the water systems.
No comments:
Post a Comment