Tag: Water Advisory

W.Va. Health Department Advises Pregnant Women Drink Bottled Water

The West Virginia Department of Health and Human Resources, based on a letter sent to Secretary Karen Bowling from the CDC, is advising pregnant women in the West Virginia American Water service area affected by last week’s chemical spill in the Elk River to drink bottled water.

A news release says the Health Department consulted with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the CDC recommends pregnant women continue drinking bottled water until there are no longer detectable levels of the chemical in the water distribution system.

However,  the CDC did re-affirm previous advice that it does not anticipate any adverse health effects from levels less than 1 ppm.

The West Virginia Bureau for Public Health–in conjunction with the CDC–has also issued a FAQ for the consumption of water by pregnant women.

The Health Department also released the following letter from the CDC:

Poison Control Not Seeing Increase in Calls Since Flushing

The West Virginia Poison Center says calls have not increased since the ban on water use in nine counties affected by Thursday’s chemical leak was lifted in some of those areas.  The majority of residents and businesses affected by the chemical leak remain without clean tap water.

On Monday afternoon, West Virginia American Water began the process of lifting bans on water usage for thousands of West Virginians.

The ban was first issued last week when a chemical used in coal processing leaked from a Freedom Industries plant into the nearby Elk River.

Since then, the public has been instructed to call the poison control center with concerns.

Director Elizabeth Scharman says calls have been steady since the initial “do not use” order was first put into place.

As the ban is lifted in areas, Scharman says the center has received calls about an increased odor, but that was expected. She says residents should keep in mind that the flushing process will likely cause the smell to increase since the contaminated water has been sitting in the water lines for days.

The center is evaluating each call individually and suspects that some cases of skin irritation could be caused by constant hand sanitizer use. Scharman says excessive testing would be needed to confirm the source of the irritation.

Remediation Process Underway at Chemical Leak Site

It was more than 24 hours after a chemical leak contaminated the drinking water of nine counties in West Virginia before the public heard from the company responsible.

Freedom Industries President Gary Southern started by apologizing to West Virginians who find themselves without water because of the incident at his business. He said the company has already begun the remediation process at their Charleston site and is taking extreme precautions to make sure no more of the chemical leaks into the water system.

In a prepared statement and in response to questions from the media, Southern said:

– The company discovered the leak at 10:30 a.m. on Thursday and began working to contain and remove it.

– The chemical contents of the leaking storage tank have been completely removed from the site. The company is now working to determine how much of it leaked from the tank into the dirt surrounding and ultimately the river.

– The remaining contaminated soil is in the process of being removed from the facility and taken to a storage area.

– Southern maintains the material is of low-toxicity and not harmful to aquatic life.

– The company has no estimated timeline for when the issue will be completely resolved.

Southern said he hopes to have more information about the amount of the chemical that leaked by tomorrow.
 

Where to Find Water: A List of Distribution Centers

As the National Guard joins Governor Tomblin as well as various county, state, and federal authorities in helping those affected by the state of emergency due a chemical leak and water advisory, we here at West Virginia Public Broadcasting will do our best to keep you informed on water distribution centers and filling stations as they become available.  Below is the most up-to-date list of these centers we have.

If there is an open distribution center not listed here: please email: dmistich@wvpublic.org

Updated: Saturday, January 11, 2014 at 5:42 p.m.

An interactive map of available water in Kanawha County and surrounding areas can be found at: http://wvfindwater.com/

Updated: Saturday, January 11, 2014 at 11:14 a.m.

Kanawha County

Dunbar Kroger Plaza
Lakewood Volunteer Fire Department
Alum Creek Volunteer Fire Department – Sand Plant Station
Loudendale Volunteer Fire Department
Chesapeake Volunteer Fire Department GeStamp Stamping Plant – South Charleston
Malden Volunteer Fire Department
Marmet Recreation Center
Sissonville Volunteer Fire Department
Clendenin Volunteer Fire Department
St. Albans West Side Fire Department Station
Nitro Fire Department
Tyler Mt. Volunteer Fire Department
Crossings Mall – Elkview
Glasgow Volunteer Fire Department
Pratt Volunteer Fire Department
Belle Volunteer Fire Department
Charleston Fire Department – Station 1 Morris Street
Charleston Fire Department – Station 2 West Washington Street
Charleston Fire Department – Station 8 Orchard Manor
East Bank Volunteer Fire Department

Putnam County

The old Buffalo High School

911 center in Winfield (behind the courthouse)

Putnam Career and Technical Center, Eleanor

Route 34 Volunteer Fire Department

Poca High School

Frazier’s Bottom Fire Station 

Hurricane Fire Department

Lincoln County

Hamlin Volunteer Fire Department, 8049 Vine Ave., Hamlin

West Hamlin Volunteer Fire Department, 121 Guyan St., Hamlin

At 9 a.m., several locations will open to provide water:

Lincoln Primary Care Center, 7400 Lynn Ave., Hamlin

Midway Elementary School, 267 Midway Road, Alum Creek

Lincoln Public Service District Plant, 240 Little Coal River Road, Alum Creek

Logan County

Sharples Fire Department

Boone County

When water arrives, it will be available at the county’s maintenance garage, across from the courthouse in Madison as well as the Madison Fire Department

Jackson County

Ripley Fire Department and Kenna Fire Department

Goldtown Community Church, Kenna

Roane County

Walton Fire Department

Spencer Fire Department

Updated: Friday, January 10, 2014 at 8:30 a.m.:

Centers in Kanawha County are beginning to open:

Saint Andrew United Methodist Church

815 Kanawha Terrace

St. Albans, W.Va.

Bartlett-Chapman Funeral Home

409 6th Avenue St. Albans, W.Va.

304-727-4325

Emergencies only until Friday morning – Opens at 7 a.m.

Chapman Funeral Home

3941 Teays Valley Road

Hurricane, W.Va.

304-757-7531

Emergencies only until Friday morning – Opens at 7 a.m.

Saint Marks Episcopal Church

405 B Street

Saint Albans, W.Va.

Will open at 7 a.m. Friday.

West Hamlin Volunteer Fire Dept.

121 Guyan Street

West Hamlin W.Va.

Please bring your own container.

Hamlin Volunteer Fire Department

8049 Vine Ave.

Hamlin, W.Va.

They are giving out one case of water to each household that comes to their station.  Each household must show that they live in one of the affected areas.

Lincoln Co. 911 Call Center

911 Marconi Dr.

West Hamlin, W.Va.

This center is being operated by the National Guard.

Boone County 911 Center

1267 Smoot Ave.

Danville, W.Va.

This center is being operated by the National Guard.

Wharton-Barrett Volunteer Fire Department

35279 Pond Fork Rd.

Wharton, W.Va.

Crossing Baptist Church

2031 Harrison Avenue

Saint Albans, W.Va.

West Virginia Division of Highways HQ

Route 60 and Walnut Street

Saint Albans, W.Va.

Please bring you own container.

Culloden Volunteer Fire Department

2102 3rd St.

Culloden, W.Va.

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