Water usage ban lifted

PINE GROVE, W.Va. – While MarkWest Energy Partners continues to deliver water to the town, Pine Grove Tuesday evening reported the water usage ban for residents has been lifted following a oil spill into the North Fork of Fishing Creek in Wetzel County.

Water Works’ manager Tim Flint, Pine Grove Mayor Roy Justice and the West Virginia Department of Health and Human Resources report the usage ban has been lifted. Residents were notified by calls and Facebook posts by the town, and by door-to-door notices by MarkWest.

Tuesday, MarkWest reported the results of 14 additional water samples: “These samples were taken from 11 homes and businesses – including Valley High School – and at three locations along North Fork of Fishing Creek. Each of the eleven samples tested negative for heat transfer oil. The three samples from North Fork of Fishing Creek demonstrated reduced levels of the product, consistent with ongoing clean-up efforts.”

Working in coordination with the Pine Grove Water Works, MarkWest facilitated the delivery of 90,000 gallons of potable water to holding tanks that were not impacted by this event. MarkWest officials said the company will continue to provide water to the town until sample results have determined that the Fishing Creek water supply can resume inflow to the treatment plant and the impacted reserve feed tank has been flushed, tested, inspected and approved for use by the appropriate regulatory agencies.

“While this second round of water samples taken from homes and businesses in Pine Grove did not detect heat transfer oil, residents and businesses can still call the 24-hour response hotline [304-212-0172] to request water testing for their homes or wells, MarkWest officials said.