Associated Press Published

Plan for Backup Water Supply Underway in Huntington

Huntington, Ohio River
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West Virginia American Water says it has initiated a contingency plan for a temporary backup water supply to its Huntington water treatment plant in response to increasing algae blooms on the Ohio River.

The Ohio River Valley Water Sanitation Commission notified the utility last week that algae blooms had been detected on the river upstream of Huntington.

The water company says in a news release the plan includes connecting large, temporary raw water lines from the Guyandotte River into the company’s raw water line.

The company says it will continue to monitor water quality upstream and at the Huntington treatment plant.

Company President Jeff McIntyre says the backup source may not be needed, but precautions are being taken for customers’ protection in the event that the algae blooms worsen.