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Aug 19, 2023

Paden City residents wait for water testing results after chemical found in local system

PADEN CITY, W.Va. — Preliminary water testing results should be available by the beginning of this week for residents of Paden City who were advised on Aug. 16 not to use or consume their water. The

PADEN CITY, W.Va. — Preliminary water testing results should be available by the beginning of this week for residents of Paden City who were advised on Aug. 16 not to use or consume their water.

The state Department of Health and Human Resources has been the lead agency working to get the testing done and supply bottled water to residents. State Health Officer Dr. Matthew Christiansen told MetroNews they’ve been working with the local water system to address the issue.

“We’ve been working closely with them to make sure that they are doing appropriate flushing, retesting the water, putting that equipment back into circulation so the residents of Paden City can have clean drinking water from here on out,” he said.

Earlier this month, it was discovered the chemical PCE had infiltrated the water system in Paden City. Christiansen said it’s a chronic contaminant.

“The EPA in conjunction with the local water system and DHHR have been monitoring it very closely and found that those levels were elevated,” he said. “It’s still under investigation as to why there’s a piece of equipment in the facility called an air striper was taken out of circulation and it appears to be a failed valve.”

The local water system then issued a “Do Not Consume” notice to water customers. Christiansen said it’s important to continue following that order until further notice.

“It’s important that those Paden City residents who are customers of this water system comply with the Do Not Consume order and make sure that they’re limiting hot water showers and those types of these things that PCE contaminants can be vaporized and can be irritating to the body as well,” he said.

Residents expressed their concerns to the Paden City Council during their meeting last Wednesday. Councilmembers are waiting for results of water samples, which were sent to West Virginia state-approved labs.

Christiansen said there could be more testing in the future before the all-clear to use the water is given.

“I will say that it often times takes multiple rounds of testing to be 100 percent sure that the water is clean,” he said.