Water Matters-West Virginia and Water Quality
By Matthew Jones
We are all reading about the recent spill of an older, commonly used industrial chemical. What
is unusual about the situation is that the chemical compound has existed for over a hundred years
and yet relatively little is known about it.
The chemical compound has been used in mining as a way to “wash” coal and was considered
innocuous. Indeed, it was the production company itself that randomly decided to test this
compound on what appears to be a whim and only after it had been around for the better part of a
century.
What they found was that, after only one test and a limited number of test animals, is that the
effects of the compound were adverse to all the test animals (all were euthanized after the test
due to various impairments from exposure).
What is telling is that the directions on the official MSDS (Material Safety Data Sheet) state
“Harmful if swallowed” and, in the event of a large spill, “Flush spill area with water spray.
Prevent runoff from entering drains, sewers, or streams.”
This spill was not reported by the containment company until after the surrounding community
was already reporting strange odors and taste to the drinking water.
Now how does this event in West Virginia have an impact on the reader? Well, unless you
happen to live along the course of the Elk River in West Virginia, the waters of the Ohio River in
Kentucky, Ohio, Indiana and Illinois or the Mississippi River between Cairo, IL and the Gulf of
Mexico, your impact is not direct.
This does not make this incident irrelevant, however.
Every day, we use compounds more volatile and less benign that the perceived impact of this
“low risk” chemical. What we do with these has an impact on our local water quality. Leftover
solvents, paint, paint thinners, lubricants and fuels all tend to accumulate in and around our
homes.
Accidents happen. Spills occur.
Own up to your responsibility and try to protect others from your misfortune.