Statement Re: Charleston, W.Va., chemical spill and its downstream impact on Evansville’s Water Supply
The Evansville Water & Sewer Utility (EWSU) has been closely monitoring the impact and issues stemming from the chemical spill, which occurred in Charleston, West Virginia, last week – 700 river miles from Evansville. EWSU is obtaining regular updates and information from the Ohio River Valley Water Sanitation Commission (ORSANCO), the Coast Guard, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the Indiana Department of Environmental Management (IDEM).
The exact time when the chemical plume will reach the Evansville area – and the concentration level – is yet to be determined, as it is dependent upon several factors, including the flow rate (miles per hour) and rain events. The river levels between the dams along the Ohio River will affect its arrival; although, it is estimated to reach our area by the weekend, according to the Coast Guard.
EWSU will examine two key issues as the plume nears our City:
1. The concentration of the chemical in the Ohio River – The Utility uses monitoring systems – gas chromatograph (GC) at its intake building and gas chromatograph mass spectrometer (GCMS) in the water plant lab. Those systems are used to determine if any of the chemical is detectable at our location.
2. Whether the chemical floats on the surface, mixes completely or sinks – The City’s water intake pumps pull water at a depth of several feet from the river bottom. The dilution effect at the Ohio River will have a large bearing on the level of detection in Evansville.The contaminants from this spill are being monitored at several points along the Ohio River, including Huntington, W. Va.; Ashland, Ky.; Maysville, Ky.; Portsmouth, Ohio; Cincinnati, Ohio; and Louisville, Ky. EWSU receives concentration reports from each location. A report yesterday showed a concentration of 36 parts per billion (ppb) at Huntington, W. Va. The Evansville Water Utility will use carbon treatment if any level of the chemical is detected. This method of treatment has been used effectively by other water utilities affected by this chemical spill. Also, this particular chemical omits a sweet odor even at very low concentrations. The carbon treatment will help minimize an odor that might be present.
The Utility will conduct routine tests on the intake water daily, as usual; however, the organic components will be more closely watched. The Utility is planning to apply its activated carbon mixture material to all intake water, which will act to absorb any organic contaminants in the river water. Additionally, the Utility will look at the GC and GCMS readouts for 4-methylcyclohexane methanol (MCHM) contamination.
The Evansville Water & Sewer Utility is a member of ORSANCO and coordinates monitoring and policy matters with and through that organization. EWSU’s equipment is tied with ORSANCO’s monitoring system via the Internet, enabling the Utility to draw from ORSANCO’s expertise in reading scans and making determinations regarding questionable components that may be observed in the intake water. EWSU is in constant contact with ORSANCO and the Coast Guard on any spills that occur along the Ohio River from Pittsburgh, Pa, to Cairo, Ill., where the Ohio River discharges into the Mississippi River.
We will continue to keep the community informed as we learn more about the spill’s impact to Evansville’s water supply.
Lloyd Winnecke, Mayor City of Evansville
Allen Mounts, Executive Director Evansville Water and Sewer Utility
ORSANCO,the EPA,and IDEM,and the ESWU should inform the persons on the systems when the chemical slug is expected to arrive and pass,then the customer makes the choice use,or not use. Trouble with the sampling taken on arrival is its delayed by result periods before isolation.
My point is sustainable balanced infrastructure should be in design not to become contaminated by intake in the first place.
What happens if the contamination is in the system before your testing results are quantified?
Sounds like Cincinnati isn’t taking that chance even though so far “they” haven’t detected a excessive ppm count as yet.
My advice for my Evansville people will be if you don’t have to don’t drink it until some authority,or myself tells them the “Approved” levels of “contamination” is well passed and well purged from the potable water system supplies.
I never drink the stuff there if I can avoid it, if I must I’ll have the server toss in a lemon wedge just to kill the funky smell and taste. Really, without after market filtration I wouldn’t consume it on your best day. Anyway after working with the testing and design of water filtration consumer goods products in the past and present,I’m,not to impressed with the Ohio river as a clean water source,as well as, most other municipal supplies across the nation.
Having seen just what is retained in a filter upon change timing,that certified itself, through advanced calibrated research lab grade Gas Chromatography and mass spectrometer testing,along with weight per dilution rate timing per molecular surface area deposits. GC-GCMS is older but reliable technology,better stuff is out there.
If you can’t shut down the intake just tell the consumers when its there,let them decide whether or not to use it for a couple of days.
Investing in some after market,water filtration is a good thing forward,for consumer source sustainability balances*. This event in West Virginia,was caught and spotlighted,personally leaving my health and well being to someone else’s approval rate for consumption when the feature is municipally controlled these days might be a tad foolish,considering the sequestered funding pinches that seems some kind of a rolling boo,boo around the country as of late.
Could be worst,think of Mt Vernon In,downstream,chemical from W.Virginia and all the combined sewer discharges along the basin,two more of those that you don’t have there. But wait! You supplied’um one of ’em….purchase a good filter (read the label) for your drinking water needs.
Pricing and installing a whole home system is really a heck of an improvement(talk to a plumbing contractor),even improves the life of some fixtures,and can cut water heating bills which then becomes incrementally and environmentally carbon smart forward,big plus,for marketability of the property,as well. 😉
And the republicans think we should abolish the epa and make it ok to dump these chemicals.
Over generalize much? Here we go with the tired and over used talking point….
” Republicans/conservatives/tea-partiers all want our kids and theirs to eat poisoned food, drink dirty/polluted water and breathe polluted/dangerous air.”
Because thats the only thing they ever do is sit around and dream up ways to kill off their own heirs through the environment.
Why do you lie so much? That is not true and you know it. Why don’t you stop parroting made up lies and join the thinking people in the middle that know we need rational regulation and a functional economy?
Oh sure, Repubs want to keep the EPA….
From Shelley Moore Capito (R-WV) .gov site: “As a co-chair of the Congressional Coal Caucus, Congresswoman Capito is a leader in the fight against excessive and unnecessary regulations from the EPA and other federal agencies aimed at reducing both the production of and the demand for West Virginia coal.”
She clearly got her payoff. I wonder if she gives a crap about all the little locals she just allowed her “client” to poison.
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