Water unsafe after chemical spill

Charleston, Western Virginia – More than 300,000 residents in West Virginia spent a third day with no safe drinking water because of a chemical spill and they may not be able to shower or drink from the tap for days to come, an official said yesterday.

The spill of 4- methylcyclohexane methanol, or Crude MCHM, came from a tank belonging to Freedom Industries, a Charleston company that produces specialty chemicals for the mining, steel and cement industries, authorities said.

Mike Dorsey, with the state’s Environmental Protection Department, said crews were using shovels, excavators, barges, vacuum trucks and other equipment to contain the spill.

‘‘ Every possible method of remediation for that kind of spill is being employed out there right now,’’ Dorsey said.

Officials have said chemical levels in the water were declining, but the spill forced schools and businesses to close in Charleston and surrounding communities.

President Barack Obama issued an emergency declaration and the Federal Emergency Management Agency sent 75 tractor trailers filled with bottled water to distribute, with National Guard assistance, to the more than 300,000 people to use their tap water.

So far, 73 people had gone to area emergency rooms and five had been admitted for observation, said Secretary Karen Bowling of the state Department of Health and Human Resources.

Their symptoms included nausea, vomiting, dizziness, diarrhoea, rashes and reddened skin, officials said.

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