Chemical Spill Fallout (West Virginia)

WSAZ ^ | Tony Cavalier

[Morgana]

Chemical Spill Spurs Action

Thursday morning a chemical leak into the Elk River occurred from the Freedom Industries in Charleston. The leaked product is 4-Methylcyclohexane Methanol, which is used in the froth flotation process of coal washing and preparation.

Since the West Virginia American Water Treatment plant is just downstream from the spill, this "contaminated" water flowed into the Charleston water plant.

From there Laura Jordan of WV American says the "octupus-like" pipelines of WV American feed water to 8 counties in Southern and Central WV. That means even areas that are not on the Elk or Great Kanawha Rivers can be affected by the "dirty water".

Like all leaks/spills in our region, the risk of health related problems is top of mind.

I spoke with Dr. Michael Castellani, Chair of Marshall’s Chemistry Department. Here are the bullet points I took away.

[UCANSEE2]

Will this chemical do a better job of cleaning clothes than the 98% ground up dog bones and no phosphate detergents they sell in the store ?

[Morgana]

I never thought of that, let me go do a load of laundry and get back with you. If they come all clean then yea, if they come back like they been through a shredder then I’d say no.

[UCANSEE2]

Another thought:

Since they aren’t supposed to drink it, can they use it to fill up their gas tanks ?

[UCANSEE2]

let me go do a load of laundry and get back with you. If they come all clean then yea, if they come back like they been through a shredder then I’d say no.

Maybe you shouldn't test it using your own clothes. Just a suggestion. ": )