Protesters at the Charleston Civic Center and the state Capitol on Thursday want to know why water distribution has been ended, even though many people still do not trust the water because of the Jan. 9 chemical leak into the Elk River and the drinking-water system.
By David Gutman
Charleston Gazette
CHARLESTON, W.Va. — Gov. Earl Ray Tomblin wants West Virginia American Water to provide bottled water to the nine counties where tap water was contaminated by the Elk River chemical leak earlier this month.
Tomblin wrote to Jeff McIntyre, president of West Virginia American, Thursday afternoon, after a clean-water protest at the state Capitol.
Following the protest, Tomblin and his staff met privately with five protesters to discuss the need to continue delivering bottled water to rural communities affected by the chemical leak.
Tomblin’s letter requests that water be provided even though all “do not use” orders have been lifted and tap water has officially been declared safe.
“To date, more than 17.5 million bottles of water have been distributed to residents in the nine affected counties, at an estimated cost of $889,575 to the state,” Tomblin wrote. “My staff continues to receive calls from constituents and organizations requesting bottled water be made available in their communities. To help address this need, I have asked West Virginia American Water Company to make available potable and bottled water to West Virginians in the affected areas.”
The water company said it is complying with the governor’s request…