Bright orange liquid flows down 29th Street in Wheeling after coming up from beneath the Interstate 470 overpass.
WHEELING, W.Va. — West Virginia Division of Highways officials are working to figure out why discolored water is gurgling out onto 29th Street from beneath the Interstate 470 overpass in Wheeling, creating a bright orange mess on the street and sidewalk.
Acting DOH District 6 Manager Tom Badgett said they first noticed the issue about two weeks ago. Officials first suspected a waterline break when the heavy flow of water began, but tests found no problems with any lines in the area, according to Wheeling Public Works Director Russell Jebbia.
From the city’s stormwater system, the water would enter Caldwell Run and, from there, flow into the Ohio River, Jebbia said. He believes the water could be coming from a previously undiscovered spring flowing up through an old mine shaft.
“We had such a wet winter, we’ve got springs popping up throughout the city,” Jebbia said.
Badgett said his office is working to figure out what’s causing the issue. Although the water is copper-colored, he said they have no evidence it’s acid mine drainage…