LEWISBURG, W.Va. — Residents were starting to see water in their homes and businesses Tuesday for the first time in three days.
“We’re slowly building pressure throughout the system,” said Lewisburg Mayor John Manchester.
A restart of the city’s water treatment plant began Monday night once testing confirmed no contamination following Friday’s spill of 3,800 gallons of diesel fuel along a tributary for Anthony Creek, which feeds into the Greenbrier River.
The intake for the treatment plant, located along the river, was closed as a precaution early Saturday morning. Reserve supplies of water ran out by Sunday, leaving an estimated 12,000 people in parts of Lewisburg, Ronceverte, Frankford and Renick without running water.
“People did pitch in and help their neighbors and try to make the best of a (bad) situation,” Manchester said. “Now we’re pulling out and I’m just very appreciative of their efforts.”
Manchester estimated needing five to seven days for full water pressure to be restored throughout the system, which covers 125 miles of pipeline. He said most homes and businesses, even those in higher elevations, should have some water by Thursday.
The entire affected area remains under a boil water advisory.
“It has nothing to do with the diesel itself because that did not go in the system, but any time there’s low pressure within a system, the health department requires that you have a boil water advisory until further notice,” Manchester explained during Tuesday’s appearance on MetroNews “Talkline.”
Bulk water distribution sites remained open Tuesday at Ronceverte’s Island Park and the National Guard Armory on Route 219 in Maxwelton, just north of Lewisburg. Donated bottled water was being delivered to shut-ins and the elderly.
Monitoring will continue to determine the condition of Anthony Creek.
“Anthony Creek is a wonderful trout stream, cold water fishery. We do not know the impact on that now,” Manchester said. “You just never know until you do more testing.”
The problem started with a truck wreck on Route 92 late Friday night.
Officials with the Environmental Protection Agency, the state Bureau of Public Health, the state Department of Environmental Protection, the Greenbrier County Office of Emergency Services, the Greenbrier County Health Department and the City of Lewisburg have been part of the response.