Polluted Drinking Water in Roane County TN, Disputed by Officials

KINGSTON, Tenn. (WVLT) — Six weeks after the coal ash spill in Roane County, an environmental group is releasing water quality test results that show dangerous levels of heavy metals.

But TVA and state officials have been saying for weeks, the water is safe.

Darrell Pelfrey has lived in Roane County his entire life, but no longer drinks what comes out of the tap. Darrell says “we just don’t drink the water no more, I mean if you go to drink the water, ain’t no telling what’s in it, its killing the fish too.”

An environmental group, United Mountain Defense agrees. Along with the Environmental Integrity Project, they say their scientists tested 22 locations over the course of a week.

Jeff Stant with the Environmental Integrity Project says “the results indicate the collapse of the ash embankment on December 22, has contaminated surface water near the collapse site and down river with levels of heavy metals that frequently exceed federal drinking water standards and water quality standards.” The group claims their results show the entire water-shed is affected directly by the spill.

Both government officials and the company behind the spill disagree.

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Source: VolunteerTv.com