100,000 West Virginians Told To Abandon Tap Water due to chemical spill

[Phillip V]

Imagine the panic if such a don't-touch-the-water advisory was issued in a large city.

http://online.wsj.com/news/articles/SB10001424052702304347904579311401555482172

At least 100,000 customers in nine West Virginia counties were told not to drink, bathe, cook or wash clothes using their tap water because of a chemical spill into the Elk River in Charleston, with Gov. Earl Ray Tomblin declaring a state of emergency Thursday for those areas.

The chemical, a foaming agent used in the coal preparation process, leaked from a tank at Freedom Industries, overran a containment area and went into the river earlier Thursday. The amount that spilled wasn't immediately known, but West Virginia American Water has a treatment plant nearby and it is the company's customers who are affected.

"The water has been contaminated," said Mr. Tomblin, who didn't know how long the emergency declaration would last.

[garbon]

Are things that happen in West Virginia comparable to major cities?

Anyway, after most major earthquakes, Californians in the affected areas are told not to trust the tap water.

[OttoVonBismarck]

To some degree they would be...this isn't similar to not trusting your tap water due to a fear of impurities. You have the head of the local water company and the Governor saying the tap water is contaminated with a dangerous chemical and it is unsafe for any use...I'm pretty sure you'd see mass pandemonium anywhere in the country an announcement like that was made.

[KRonn]

To some degree they would be...this isn't similar to not trusting your tap water due to a fear of impurities. You have the head of the local water company and the Governor saying the tap water is contaminated with a dangerous chemical and it is unsafe for any use...I'm pretty sure you'd see mass pandemonium anywhere in the country an announcement like that was made.

Yeah, this would be a mess anywhere. I remember that Massachusetts had a water main break in the pipeline that brings water from the Quabbin Reservoir to dozens of towns and it caused quite a ruckus.

[Caliga]

That looks like a Country Mart.  We have those here.   I guess it's a step up from IGA, though.

[Valmy]

leaked from a tank at Freedom Industries

Freedom Industries?

We sell freedom!

[derspiess]

That looks like a Country Mart.  We have those here.   I guess it's a step up from IGA, though.

Going by the tags, it looks like a Kroger.  Mind you, Kroger locations tend to be a bit old & run-down in WV.

[Ed Anger]

Looks like a Marsh's or a Fulmer's.

[katmai]

What the hell is a Fulmers el jefe?

[Ed Anger]

What the hell is a Fulmers el jefe?

A shitty local supermarket. Think IGA, but even more run down.

I went way too local with that reference.

[Grey Fox]

I think that supermarket looks fine.

How does a not-rundown market looks like for you guys?

[katmai]

Gotcha. Just scared me as I have Fulmer family from
Dayton area.

[Ed Anger]

Gotcha. Just scared me as I have Fulmer family from
Dayton area.

Doesn't sound Hispanic. 

[katmai]

Considering Mothers side if family is German-Irish I would think so.

[Caliga]

I think that supermarket looks fine.

How does a not-rundown market looks like for you guys?

I don't think it looks like a Kroger... I'm sure I'll be in Kroger this weekend so I'll try to pay attention to the signage, etc.

...and the market in that pic doesn't look run-down based on the pic itself, but if it is a Country Mart, it's going to be chock full of crap.  I'm talking green baloney, people.