WHAT’S BEING DONE. AUTHORITIES WITH THE COLUMBIANA COUNTY HEALTH DEPARTMENT SAY THAT THEY’RE FOCUSING ON POTENTIAL CONTAMINATION OF PRIVATE, WELL WATER. NOW, THEY SAY THAT CONTAMINATION IS NOT GUARANTEED, BUT THAT’S WHY THEY’RE CONDUCTING TESTS. BUT THEY ALSO SAY THESE TESTS ARE BEING CONDUCTED AT THE REQUEST OF HOMEOWNERS. EAST PALESTINE RESIDENTS WERE ALARMED BY THE TRAIN DERAILMENT AND THEN HIGHLY CONCERNED WITH WATER CONTAMINATION. THIS IS WHY. DEAD FISH TURNING UP IN LESLIE RUN CREEK AND SULFUR CREEK. THESE CREEKS RUN CLOSE TO PRIVATE RESIDENTIAL WELLS. CATEGORIC LEA, THERE IS A RISK TO WORLD WATER TO PRIVATE RESIDENTS RIGHT NOW. THAT’S WHAT WE DON’T KNOW. AND WHY WE NEED TO SAMPLE. COLUMBIANA COUNTY AUTHORITIES ARE CONCERNED ABOUT PRIVATE WELLS NEAR THOSE TWO CREEKS WHERE CHEMICALS WERE FOUND AFTER THE DERAILMENT. NOW, MORE THAN A WEEK LATER, THE EPA AND OHIO EPA ARE TRYING TO CLEAN SOME OF THE WATERWAYS. AND THE FOCUS TURNS TO PRIVATE RESIDENTIAL WELLS. RESIDENTS HAVE BEEN ABLE TO DETERMINE IF THEIR WATER IS SAFE TO USE. OFFICIALS DON’T KNOW EITHER UNTIL THEY ARE ABLE TO TEST THE WATER. AUTHORITIES STARTED TESTING PRIVATE WELLS LAST WEEK, BUT HAVE TO WAIT 5 TO 7 DAYS FOR RESULTS, MEANING ANSWERS COULD BE COMING SOON. AS MANY HOMEOWNERS ARE STILL ON WAITING LISTS TO HAVE THEIR WELLS TESTED. WE’RE THERE ABOUT AN HOUR. WE HAVE TO RUN THE WATER FOR A LITTLE BIT AND THEN FILL UP SEVERAL BOTTLES. TAKE A LOOK AT THE SYSTEM THAT YOU HAVE. IF YOU HAVE ANY KIND OF FILTERS OR ANY TYPE OF TREATMENT ON THERE. AND THEN TAKE A LOOK AT THE WELL ITSELF. AUTHORITIES ALSO SAY THAT THE WELL WATER TESTING IS BEING CONDUCTED WITHIN A HALF MILE RADIUS OF THE DERAILMENT. AND THEY WILL MOVE OUTWARD AS THEY PROCEED FURTHER IN EAST
Testing for well water contamination underway in East Palestine following train derailment
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Updated: 6:25 PM EST Feb 13, 2023
A week after a controlled burn of chemicals on the train derailed near East Palestine, Ohio, Columbiana County's Health District confirms that private well water testing is underway after chemicals were found in Sulfur Creek and Lesley Run Creek.Authorities say those creeks are where scores of dead fish turned up after chemicals leaked from damaged tanker cars following the Norfolk Southern train derailment last week, and they run very close to residential wells.Residents concerned about potential contamination must submit a request to have their wells tested. "We're there for about an hour. We have to run the water for a little bit, fill up several bottles, take a look at the system you have, if you have any filters, or any kind of treatment on there, and take a look at the well itself," says Laura Fauss, a public information officer for Columbiana County.Once well tests are completed, authorities say results are expected within five to seven days.
EAST PALESTINE, Ohio — A week after a controlled burn of chemicals on the train derailed near East Palestine, Ohio, Columbiana County's Health District confirms that private well water testing is underway after chemicals were found in Sulfur Creek and Lesley Run Creek.
Authorities say those creeks are where scores of dead fish turned up after chemicals leaked from damaged tanker cars following the Norfolk Southern train derailment last week, and they run very close to residential wells.
Residents concerned about potential contamination must submit a request to have their wells tested.
"We're there for about an hour. We have to run the water for a little bit, fill up several bottles, take a look at the system you have, if you have any filters, or any kind of treatment on there, and take a look at the well itself," says Laura Fauss, a public information officer for Columbiana County.
Once well tests are completed, authorities say results are expected within five to seven days.
