Louisville Water Co.: Tainted Ohio River water no threat to Nelson water supply

STAFF REPORT

Wednesday, Jan. 15, 2014 — The chemicals that tainted the water supplies for more than 300,000 people in West Virginia will arrive in the Ohio River at Louisville on Thursday, WDRB TV reported Wednesday.

More than 7,500 gallons of 4-methylcyclohexame methanol leaked into the Elk River at Charleston, W.Va., forcing thousands of people to depend on bottled water for drinking and cooking.

Louisville Water Company officials say the diluted chemical poses no health risk for customers they serve, which includes large sections of the North Nelson Water District here in Nelson County.

Louisville Water Company and Kentucky Emergency Management officials have been monitoring the quality of the water as it has traveled downstream. According to WDRB, the tainted water should arrive in the Louisville area about 9 p.m., and will be measured in parts per billion — or one drop in 500 Bourbon barrels.

The Northern Kentucky Water District and the Greater Cincinnati Water Works closed their intake values on the Ohio River as a precaution as the tainted water passed through their area.

Louisville Water Company officials say the public health is paramount, and are confident there will be no problem with the water supply.

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