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State of emergency, water ban issued in West Virginia over chemical leak

West Virginia governor Earl Ray Tomblin announced a state of emergency in five counties on Thursday, following a chemical spill into the Elk River, prompting a water ban that is reported to impact 100,000 customers.

RT,

10 January, 2014

Local residents are urged not to drink, bathe, or cook with the water from their taps. Water use has only been permitted for flushing or fire emergencies.

West Virginia American Water customers in Boone, Lincoln, Kanawha, Jackson and Putnam counties are included in the state of emergency, according to WSAZ.

According to reports, the leak of 4-Methylcyclohexane Methanol, a chemical used in the froth flotation process during coal washing, came from a tank at Freedom Industries in Charleston.

So far Freedom Industries had not provided any comment.

The Kanawha Charleston Health Department told WSAZ that daycares, universities, restaurants, and schools will need to shut down.

West Virginia American Water stated that the leaked material is hazardous, but is not deadly.

The Federal Emergency Management Agency has been tasked with bringing clean water into the area.

The smell of the contaminated water is reported to be similar to liquorice, and officials said would likely taste like gas.

Governor Earl Ray Tomblin said it is not yet known how long it will take to fix the leak and the state of emergency will be in place until the water is safe to drink.

W.Va. Gov. Issues State of Emergency, Water Ban for 8 Counties after Leak

WSAZ3

9 January, 2013

CHARLESTON, W.Va. (WSAZ) -- West Virginia Governor Earl Ray Tomblin has issued a state of emergency for five counties after a chemical leak in Kanawha County Thursday morning.

The state of emergency includes West Virginia American Water customers in Kanawha, Boone, Putnam, Lincoln, Logan, Clay, Roane and Jackson counties.

West Virginia American Water says customers on Queen Shoals PSD, Lincoln PSD, and Reamer Hill are also impacted by the advisory.

WVAW customers are told not to use tap water for drinking, cooking, washing, or bathing. You can use the water for toilets and fire emergencies. Boiling water will not get rid of the chemical.

This is believed to impact 100,000 customers.

The Kanawha Charleston Health Department, which covers Kanawha and Putnam counties tells WSAZ.com all permit holders in both counties, including daycares, universities, restaurants, and schools need to shut down.

Homeland Security says if you feel sick, seek medical attention at a local hospital or call poison control hotline at 1-800-222-1222. You can also call the Emergency Operations Center at 304-746-8828.

According to a news release, the leak happened at Freedom Industries in Charleston. The leaked product is 4-Methylcyclohexane Methanol, which is used in the froth flotation process of coal washing and preparation.

The chemical is believed to have leaked into the Elk River.

West Virginia American Water believes the material is hazardous, but is not lethal in it's current form.

FEMA has been contacted to bring clean water into the area.

Officials describe the smell as something similar to liquorice.

There is no estimated time when this will be repaired, according to Gov. Earl Ray Tomblin. The State of Emergency will be in place until Department of Health and Human Reasources, Department of Environmental Protection and West Virginia American Water determine the water is safe.

They say customers with St. Albans, Cedar Grove Water, Town of West Hamlin Water, Branchland-Midkiff PSD, Putnam PSD are not affected by this leak.

Putnam PSD is asking customers to consider filling bottle or 2 for friends & family living in the area covered by Do Not Use warning.

The West Hamlin Volunteer Fire Department has water available for WVAW customers in Lincoln County.

Dr. Michael Castellani with Marshall University tells WSAZ.com the chemical is colorless and there is a faint odor.

Dr. Castellani says if you bath with contaminated water, it will irritate your skin.

He tells WSAZ.com it is also a respiratory irritant if you inhale it.

If you drink the water, Dr. Castenalli says it may have a gas taste.

We have several crews on the scene.

Keep clicking on WSAZ.com for the latest on this story.

UPDATE 1/9/14 @ 5:45 p.m.

CHARLESTON, W.Va. (WSAZ) -- West Virginia Governor Earl Ray Tomblin is warning residents of possible water contamination after a leak at Freedom Industries in Charleston Thursday morning.

Gov. Tomblin says residents in Boone, Lincoln, Kanawha, Jackson and Putnam counties should not use tap water for drinking, cooking, washing, or bathing. You can use the water for toilets and fire emergencies. Boiling water will not get rid of the chemical.

The Kanawha County Department of Homeland Security and Emergency Management says this impacts residents who have West Virginia American Water.

According to a news release, the leaked product is 4-Methylcyclohexane Methanol, which is used in the froth flotation process of coal washing and preparation.

West Virginia American Water believes the material is hazardous, but is not lethal in it's current form.

They say water from St. Albans or Cedar Grove Water is not affected by this leak.

An emergency press conference is scheduled for 5:45 p.m.

We have a crew on the scene.

Keep clicking on WSAZ.com for the latest on this story.

UPDATE 1/9/14 @ 2:15 p.m.

CHARLESTON, W.Va. (WSAZ) -- The Department of Enviornment Protection is monitoring a leak at a business in Charleston that produced a strong smell in the Kanawha Valley.

C.W. Sigman, Kanawha County Emergency Manager, tells WSAZ.com Freedom Industries on Barlow Drive had a tank leak.

According to a news release, the leaked product is 4-Methylcyclohexane Methanol, which is used in the froth flotation process of coal washing and preparation. The product initially leaked into a containment area, the product then leaked from the containment area into the Elk river. Sigman says the leak has produced a smell described as something similar to liquorice.

Sigman says there is no way to get it out of the water. There is some concern the product could get into the water intake, according to Sigman. Crews are monitoring the situation.

Right now, the DEP continues to work to clean the affected areas.

At this point, it's unclear how much of the product leaked. However, the product safety data sheet does not indicate a toxic level for inhalation. Sigman says the product is dangerous to ingest.

A shelter in place has not been advised, but If people who live in the area would happen to show signs of nausea they are advised to go indoors.

West Virginia American Water says the water quality and water treatment teams are closely monitoring the chemical spill on the Elk River near the Kanawha Valley Water Treatment Plant.

They say water quality experts advise that the incident does not present a health risk to customers. Contaminants that reach the plant's intake site are removed from the water through the plant's multifaceted treatment process, which includes filtration through advanced Granular Activated Carbon filters.

They say water quality experts will continue to monitor the situation closely and remain in direct contact with the WV Department of Environmental Protection and the chemical supplier.

Keep clicking on WSAZ.com for the latest information.

UPDATE 1/9/14 @ 11:20 a.m.

CHARLESTON, W.Va. (WSAZ) -- A strong smell in the Kanawha Valley appears to be coming from a business in Charleston.

C.W. Sigman, Kanawha County Emergency Manager, tells WSAZ.com an odor is coming from a company called Freedom Industries on Barlow Drive.

The smell is from a product called crude, which is used in the coal prep process. Sigman describes the smell as something similar to liquorice.

The West Virginia Department of Environmental Protection is on the scene trying to resolve the odor.

Air quality crews are out in the county monitoring how much of the substance is in the air. No other details are being released at this time.

The smell was reported about 10 a.m. and seemed to be concentrated in the areas of Garrison Avenue and the Elk River area near the I-77/I-64 split.

The county has had similar incidents in St. Albans and Chesapeake in the past year. None of the incidents are related.

Firefighters from Charleston and Sissonville helped in Thursday's investigation.

WSAZ.com has contacted the company, but our calls were not returned before publication.

We have a crew at the scene. Keep clicking on WSAZ.com for the latest information.

ORIGINAL STORY 1 9/14 @ 10:45 a.m.

CHARLESTON, W.Va. (WSAZ) -- Emergency crews are investigating a strong smell in the Kanawha Valley.

C.W. Sigman, Kanawha County Emergency Manager, tells WSAZ.com the smell seems to be concentrated in the areas of Garrison Avenue and the Elk River area near the I-77/I-64 split.

Sigman describes the smell as something similar to liquorice. The smell was reported about 10 a.m. Thursday.

Right now, firefighters in Charleston and Sissonville are out trying to locate where the smell is coming from.

We have a crew on the scene.

Keep clicking on WSAZ.com for the latest information.