CINCINNATI — A major water utility in southwest Ohio continues to test the water in the Ohio River as it prepares for the possibility that it’s impacted by the train derailment that happened in East Palestine two weeks ago.
What You Need To Know
- Water impacted by the chemical spill in East Palestine is expected to make it to Cincinnati through the Ohio River by Monday
- Greater Cincinnati Water Works has been working with the Ohio EPA and the Ohio River Valley Water Sanitation Commission to see what can be done
- So far no chemicals have been detected in the Ohio River in the Cincinnati-area
- Greater Cincinnati Water Works will shut down its intake from the river plant before the water is expected to arrive
Greater Cincinnati Water Works expects the water that was impacted by the chemical spill from the derailment to hit the city by Monday, but it’s subject to the weather.
“We and them did analysis of this compound to try to see what concentrations they were, how’s it moving, and how fast it’s moving,” said Jeff Swertfeger, Greater Cincinnati Water Works Superintendent of Water Quality Treatment.
Swertfeger has been working with Ohio EPA and the Ohio River Valley Water Sanitation Commission to see what can be done. They have collected 130 samples in the Cincinnati area and so far have not detected any levels of the chemicals from the derailment in the river.
“What we know is that the concentrations have been dropping pretty quickly,” said Swertfeger. “They started off being about four parts per billion and now it’s down to not detect.”
Because of that, he doesn’t believe wildlife or tap water will be impacted.
“I drink this water, as do our staff and all our families as well,” he said. “We want to do what we can to make sure the water is protected and nothing gets into the water.”
Just to be safe GCWW is taking extra precautions.
“Our intent is to do some intensive sampling when it gets closer to make sure we can’t detect it,” he said. “Even with that, we’ll shut down our raw water intake and do a lot more sampling to make sure it’s safe before we re-open our intakes back up.”
