January 9th 2014.
On January 9th 2014, a faulty storage tank leaked 10,000 gal of an industrial coal processing liquid into the Elk River in West Virginia (WV), contaminating the drinking water of the nine counties collectively known as the Kanawha Valley.
How long did the West Virginia water crisis last?
The analysis found millions of people across the country, including 912,650 people in West Virginia, consumed water from drinking systems that were out of compliance with the U.S. Safe Drinking Water Act (SDWA), at various points between June 1, 2016, and May 31, 2019.
When was the West Virginia chemical spill?
January 9, 2014
2014 West Virginia Chemical Release
On January 9, 2014, an estimated 10,000 gallons of an industrial chemical, 4-Methylcyclohexanemethanol (MCHM), spilled into the Elk River just upstream from the Kanawha County municipal water intake in Charleston, West Virginia.
Who caused the Elk River chemical spill?
The culprit was 10,000 gallons of crude methylcyclohexane methanol (MCHM), a chemical mixture that had leaked out of an old, but active storage tank sitting along the banks of the river. And it sat just 1.5 miles upstream from the drinking water intake for a nine-county area.
How was the Elk River chemical spill cleaned up?
The spill was contained in the Elk River with absorbent booms. Soil around the tank was cleaned up and the water system piping was decontaminated.
What caused the West Virginia chemical spill?
On January 9th 2014, a faulty storage tank leaked 10,000 gal of an industrial coal processing liquid into the Elk River in West Virginia (WV), contaminating the drinking water of the nine counties collectively known as the Kanawha Valley.
Can you drink the water in WV?
Health officials say the tap water near Charleston, West Virginia, is all right to drink. But many residents aren’t buying it.
How much did it cost to clean up the Elk River spill?
A local research group has calculated that roughly $61 million was lost by local businesses as a result of the chemical spill into the Elk River. The Center For Business and Economic Research at Marshall University conducted a preliminary investigation on the impact of the January 9th chemical spill into the Elk River.
What is the chemical PPH?
Glycol Ether PPH, also known as Propylene Glycol Phenyl Ether, is a slow evaporating glycol ether. The substance is a clear, slightly yellow liquid and it’s odor is low and faint. It is very hydrophobic, while it’s molecular weight is heavier than other similar solvents.
How did the Elk River Freedom industry affect the area?
Following the spill, up to 300,000 residents within nine counties in the Charleston, West Virginia metropolitan area were without access to potable water. The areas affected were portions of Boone, Clay, Jackson, Kanawha, Lincoln, Logan, Putnam, and Roane counties and the Culloden area of Cabell County.
Why is Flint Michigan water contamination?
Officials failed to apply corrosion inhibitors to the water, which resulted in lead from aging pipes leaching into the water supply, exposing around 100,000 residents to elevated lead levels. A pair of scientific studies confirmed that lead contamination was present in the water supply.
What is MCHM used for?
MCHM is used in washing coal, helping separate the burnable fossil fuel from the unburnable rock and dirt and other impurities. In the taxonomy of chemistry, it’s an alcohol, which means a molecule with a hydrogen atom and an oxygen atom bound to one of its carbon atoms.
What is required for a toxic chemical spill?
Avoid breathing in vapors from the spill. If the spill is in a non-ventilated area, do not attempt to clean it up. Call for emergency personnel to respond and clean up the spill. Don appropriate PPE including a laboratory coat, splash goggles, and appropriate chemically resistant gloves.
Is the Kanawha River polluted?
The Kanawha River Valley in West Virginia has become extremely polluted due to leaks and spills from some 20 chemical plants that produce explosive, toxic, and carcinogenic compounds.
Is Morgantown tap water safe?
For the latest quarter assessed by the U.S. EPA (January 2021 – March 2021), tap water provided by this water utility was in compliance with federal health-based drinking water standards.
Is Morgantown water hard or soft?
Morgantown’s water is considered ‘hard‘, with an average of 130.6 ppm.
How many suffered physical ailments Elk River spill?
Of 2110 reported symptoms, 993 (47%) were gastrointestinal (eg, nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain, diarrhea), and 401 (19%) were skin related (eg, rash, itching).
What is propylene glycol phenyl ether?
The primary use of propylene glycol phenyl ether is as a solvent that facilitates the mixing of aqueous and organic constituents in paints, coatings, and films.
What caused the Dan River Coal Ash Spill?
The cause of the ash spill was described by EPA as a limited structural flaw. A storm pipe nearby the deposits of a coal ash slurry containment area broke and allowed for the leakage. Coal ash slurry is produced during the process of burning coal.
Who owns Freedom Industries USA?
Business owner Jim Shafer on Thursday bought the Freedom Industries site at an auction for $375,000. Shafer owns a steel fabrication shop near Clendenin, and he plans to expand to the Freedom Industries location. In January 2014, a tank at Freedom Industries leaked thousands of gallons of coal cleaning chemicals.
Does Flint have clean water yet 2021?
Flint enters 6th straight year of compliance with water standards for lead. The Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy (EGLE) today announced that the City of Flint’s water system has entered its sixth consecutive year of meeting state and federal standards for lead in drinking water.
