West Virginia town shouldn’t drink or shower using its water after water exceeded contaminant level - WTRF
West Virginia town can't drink it's water or shower because it exceeded contaminant level
A West Virginia town is currently under a do not use water order.
Paden City sent out a notice to citizens saying they received notice on August 16 that a sample collected on July 27 showed their system exceeded the standard maximum contaminant level (MCL) for Tetrachloroethylene.
The standard for Tetrachloroethylene is 0.0005 mg/L. Tetrachloroethylene was found at 0.0303mg/L in Paden City.
Paden City says the contamination is due to a mechanical failure in a by-pass value.
The city says this allowed water to by-pass the Air Stripper Unit and enter the water system untreated.
Paden City says the issue has been corrected and they are working on flushing the system and will be testing regularly until they clear the containment.
Paden City asks that you do not boil the water because it may increase the risk of exposure. Some people who drink water containing Tetrachloroethylene in excess of the MCL over many years could have issues with their liver and may be risked of getting cancer.
Also, the city says not to bathe or shower because it could increase exposure. Tetrachloroethylene releases from water into the air so bathing and showering with Tetrachloroethylene-contaminated water may increase exposure through breathing.
The city says the action was initiated as soon as they were made aware of the situation.
7News is working to get more information, refresh this story for updates.
Related Knowledge Center: Climate economics
Climate change is now a driver of the world’s economy. The impact is profound:
- Catastrophic weather events — hurricanes, floods, droughts, high temperatures — are more frequent and more extreme. The cost can be measured in both the initial damage caused and the longer-term impact on the economy.
- Vulnerable communities are increasing climate-related investments, hardening infrastructure and taking other protective measures.
- Investment in carbon capture and storage technologies is increasingly rapidly.
- Governments are making investments and crafting regulations to reduce emissions of carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases.
On top of all of this is the cost of uncertainty. As the Fourth National Climate Assessment, released in 2018 by the U.S. Global Change Research Program, says, “The assumption that current and future climate conditions will resemble the recent past is no longer valid.”