Customers of the City of Kenova water system could potentially experience water service interruption over the next several hours into the evening, because of the closing of their drinking water intake due to possible river contamination. This action was caused by a towing vessel that is partially submerged in the Big Sandy River. The West Virginia Department of Health and Human Resources (DHHR), Bureau for Public Health (BPH), and other agencies have collected water samples and have submitted them for lab analysis. Results may take several days which means water service may be limited, if not unavailable, during this time.
The state is in the process of assisting the county with the provision of two 8,000 gallon tankers from the West Virginia Department of Transportation to help support the water system. BPH will continue to monitor the situation with the West Virginia Department of Environmental Protection and other state agencies while coordinating with the City of Kenova.
There are approximately 3,777 customers served by the City of Kenova water system.