HUNTINGTON, W.Va. (AP) — A West Virginia water utility is enhancing its water treatment process as a precaution following the derailment of a train hauling chemicals that later sent up a toxic plume in Ohio.
West Virginia American Water said Sunday that it's also going to install a secondary intake on the Guyandotte River in case there's a need to switch to an alternate water source. The utility noted that there hasn't been any change in raw water at its Ohio River intake.
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"The health and safety of our customers is a priority, and there are currently no drinking water advisories in place for customers," the company said in a statement.
About 50 cars, including 10 carrying hazardous materials, derailed in a fiery crash Feb. 3 in East Palestine, Ohio. Vinyl chloride was later released into the air from five of those cars before crews ignited it to get rid of the highly flammable, toxic chemicals in a controlled environment, creating a dark plume of smoke.
Residents from nearby neighborhoods in Ohio and Pennsylvania were evacuated because of health risks from the fumes, but have since been allowed to return.