GARY, W.Va. — Residents in the McDowell County town of Gary have been issued an advisory to not drink their tap water. The warning comes after raw coal refuse may have leaked into the town’s main drinking water well source.
The West Virginia Department of Environmental Protection’s Division of Mining and Reclamation issued a notice of violation Friday to Hendrick Garry LLC for a leaking sediment pond. Inspectors noticed the leak at the Gary Antaeus Impoundment. Inspectors reported the leaking sediment control structure could reasonably be expected to impact the well used as the town’s drinking water source.
Inspectors on site however said on Friday they had observed no discolored water in the public service districts water system or any discoloration from water seeping from the pond itself. The DO NOT DRINK advisory was issued Friday out of “an abundance of caution.”
The DEP’s notice of violation also carried an order for the coal company to provide drinking water to the town within 24 hours and to immediately remediate the leaking pond. Those efforts were underway Friday night. State officials continue to monitor the situation today.
Although the advisory to town water customers is to not drink the water, it is still usable for toilet flushing and fire fighting purposes.