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.