Incident Description: RESIDENTS IN CHARLESTON AND SURROUNDING COUNTIES WERE TOLD THURSDAY EVENING NOT TO DRINK, COOK WITH OR WASH WITH WATER SUPPLIED BY WEST VIRGINIA AMERICAN WATER, FOLLOWING A LEAK EARLIER IN THE DAY AT A CHEMICAL FACILITY ALONG THE ELK RIVER.

ANY WATER SUPPLIED BY WEST VIRGINIA AMERICAN WATER IN KANAWHA, PUTNAM, BOONE, JACKSON AND LINCOLN COUNTIES WAS TO BE USED ONLY FOR FLUSHING TOILETS AND PUTTING OUT FIRES.

THE STATE OF EMERGENCY INCLUDES WEST VIRGINIA AMERICAN WATER CUSTOMERS IN BOONE, LINCOLN, KANAWHA, JACKSON AND PUTNAM COUNTIES, ACCORDING TO NBC STATION WSAZ.

RESIDENTS WERE TOLD NOT TO DRINK THE WATER, BATHE IN IT OR COOK WITH THE WATER AND ONLY USE IT FOR FLUSHING AND FIRE EMERGENCIES. BOILING IT WILL NOT REMOVE THE CHEMICALS.

THE DECLARATION IS BELIEVED TO IMPACT 100,000 CUSTOMERS, WSAZ REPORTED.

THE STATION SAID THE CHEMICAL LEAKED FROM A TANK AT FREEDOM INDUSTRIES IN CHARLESTON. THE LEAKED PRODUCT IS 4-METHYLCYCLOHEXANE METHANOL, WHICH IS USED IN THE FROTH FLOTATION PROCESS OF COAL WASHING AND PREPARATION,

ACCORDING TO WEST VIRGINIA AMERICAN WATER, DUE TO A CHEMICAL LEAK THAT WENT INTO THE ELK RIVER THURSDAY, A DO NOT USE WATER ORDER HAS BEEN ISSUED FOR THE COUNTIES OF BOONE, JACKSON, KANAWHA, LINCOLN, AND PUTNAM IN WV.

RESIDENTS LIVING IN THESE COUNTIES WHO USE WEST VIRGINIA AMERICAN WATER ARE BEING ASKED TO NOT USE TAP WATER FOR DRINKING, COOKING, WASHING, OR BATHING UNTIL FURTHER NOTICE.

THE PUBLIC SERVICE DISTRICT SAYS THIS ONLY AFFECTS CUSTOMERS WHO USE WEST VIRGINIA AMERICAN WATER. CUSTOMERS IN ST. ALBANS AND CEDAR GROVE ARE NOT AFFECTED BY THIS.

IT IS BELIEVED THAT THE MATERIAL MAY BE HAZARDOUS AND MAY HAVE ENTERED THE WATER SYSTEM.

THE GOVERNOR OF WV HAS DECLARED A STATE OF EMERGENCY.

A SPOKESPERSON FOR WEST VIRGINIA AMERICAN WATER SAYS IF YOU CAME INTO CONTACT WITH THE WATER AND FEEL ILL, CALL THE POISON CONTROL HOTLINE AT 1-800-222-1222.