Tap water in the Kanawha Valley of West Virginia can’t be used for drinking, cooking, bathing or cleaning after a chemical spill into the Elk River.
Water is one of life’s basic necessities, and it is not available to people in a portion of West Virginia following a chemical spill into the Elk River.
According to a report from CBS News, the spill occurred Thursday, Jan. 9 at Freedom Industries from a 40,000-gallon tank. A coal-washing product called 4-methylcyclohexane methanol leaked into the river, but Tom Aluise, a state Department of Environmental Protection spokesman, said officials were confident no more than 5,000 gallons flowed into the waterway.
As a result of the spill, schools and restaurants have been closed in some of the areas affected, with the state legislature shutting down on Friday as well as cancellation of classes at West Virginia State University.
Grocery and convenience stores also have seen their supplies of bottled water depleted as residents scramble to procure water for even the most basic needs.
Dealing with a crisis
Estimates reported by NBC News indicate that approximately 100,000 customers of West Virginia American Water or nearly 300,000 total people have been impacted by the spill and an order from Gov. Earl Ray Tomblin and the federal government. That disaster order advises people in the affected area not to consume, cook, bathe or wash clothes in tap water. It is to be used only for toilet flushing and fire emergencies. Boiling the water will not remove the chemicals.
The affected area includes nine counties in the south-central and western regions of the state. Those counties are Boone, Cabell, Clay, Jackson, Kanawha, Lincoln, Logan, Putnam and Roane.
“We’re dealing with a crisis here,” said Forrest Palmer Jr., interim executive presbyter of West Virginia Presbytery, located in South Charleston right in the heart of the affected area.
Palmer indicated that he has been in contact with Presbyterian Disaster Assistance (PDA), and a plan is being formulated to offer help to those impacted by the loss of water. He also noted that the presbytery office has been flooded with calls from church leaders about offering assistance.
“We’ve had some good communication so far, especially about bringing in water,” Palmer said. “The dilemma with that is that we get a lot of water, then what? We can’t distribute it fast enough. There are some areas running out of water, and we need to help, but we are trying to do so without promoting panic.”
Hazards associated with the spill
West Virginia American Water President Jeff McIntyre indicated that the chemical isn’t lethal but not a lot is known about it or its effects other than symptoms of severe burning in the throat, severe eye irritation, non-stop vomiting, trouble with breathing and severe skin irritation. Symptoms are greater when the chemical is at full strength, but it has been diluted by the water.
The chemical spill at Freedom Industries, located about a mile upriver from the water plant, gave off a smell similar to licorice or cough syrup that alerted officials that something was amiss, prompting the advisory to not use water around 6 p.m. Thursday.
A spokesperson for the company said there is no way to treat the water, and there is no indication how long the advisory to refrain from using water will remain in effect.
“According to the EPA (Environmental Protection Agency), there is no good research record on the chemical. They know it’s hazardous and are taking a precautious route,” Palmer said. “The bigger issue is that we have no idea how long this will last.”
Answering the call
Palmer added that the presbytery and churches in the affected areas are striving to make sure emergency crews trying to contain the spill and clean up the contamination have food and water needed to sustain them in their efforts as well as meet the needs of residents without water.
“We’re working to help those first responders and emergency management members who are on the front lines assisting our populace,” he said. “We’re called by God to make a difference in the world, and this is a tangible, practical way to do that.”
Patricia Jarvis, pastor of First Presbyterian Church in Dunbar (Kanawha County) said the incident is a reminder that man is not in control, noting the need to cling to God in such a situation.
“We don’t have control over the events that happen, but we do have control of what our response will be,” she said. “We have decided as a congregation that we will respond as faithfully, energetically, imaginatively and lovingly as we can, not only to ourselves but our community.”
Bringing out the best
Meeting that community need includes continuation of a monthly feeding program started more than four years ago. Once a month the congregation offers a free lunch to the entire community. That will take place Saturday in spite of the water restrictions imposed.
“We’re a working-class people, and many come out for this meal because they are hungry or just lonely,” Jarvis said. “We expect that due to this crisis we will have an overflow crowd.”
Members of a veterans’ residential home in nearby Ona, unaffected by the spill, are assisting with the meal, bringing additional pots and pans, cooking some of the food and bringing a supply of bottled water.
“When there is a crisis, it brings out the best and worst in us,” said Jarvis, referencing reports of people fighting over bottles of water and taking it from stores without paying. “The hope for our congregation and the church in general is that this brings out the best in us.
“This too shall pass. The Lord didn’t promise we wouldn’t have a crisis in our lives. He did promise Immanuel would be with us.”