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West Virginia Governor Earl Tomblin announced on Monday that the ban on using tap water has been lifted for some areas affected by a chemical spill that tainted the area's water supply. But no one has yet answered other questions about the spill, like why chemical plant that caused the leak hasn't been inspected by regulators since 1991.

Relief is slowly but surely coming for the roughly 300,000 people told not to drink or wash themselves since last Thursday, after 7,500 gallons of 4-methylcyclohexane methanol, a chemical used to clean coal, leaked into the Elk River. Nine surrounding counties, including the capitol city of Charleston were affected by the water ban. Homes, schools and businesses were left dry for about five days. Thankfully, there was no great medical emergency; only 10 people were hospitalized because of the spill and local officials were quick to act on the distribution of clean water. Officials now believe the clean-up is nearly complete. "The numbers we have look good," Tomblin told reporters.

The ban will be lifted in a "strict, methodical manner to help ensure the water system is not overwhelmed by excessive demand, which could cause more water quality and service issues," the Associated Press reports, which will solve the very short-term problem of an infected water supply. But greater issues remain, like the state's historically poor environmental protection policies.