Water methodically turned back on 5 days after W.Va. spill; long wait for many in Charleston | iNFOnews | Thompson-Okanagan's News Source
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Water methodically turned back on 5 days after W.Va. spill; long wait for many in Charleston

CORRECTS STATE TO W.VA. INSTEAD OF VA. - West Virginia Gov. Earl Ray Tomblin, speaks during a press conference concerning the chemical spill, at the Capitol in Charleston, W.Va., Monday, Jan. 13, 2014. Starting with downtown Charleston, officials in West Virginia are gradually lifting the ban on using tap water in the nine counties affected by a chemical spill that tainted the water supply. The announcement Monday comes five days after some 300,000 people were told to use the water only to flush their toilets. Tomblin says the testing of the water indicates that it's now safe enough for the ban to be lifted. It's being lifted area by area, so that the water system doesn't get overwhelmed by excessive demand. (AP Photo/Steve Helber)

CHARLESTON, W.Va. - Water has been declared safe to drink in portions of West Virginia's capital, allowing some businesses and restaurants to reopen five days after a chemical spill. But life has yet to return to normal for most of the 300,000 people affected by the crisis.

It could still be days before everyone in the Charleston metropolitan area is cleared to use water. Officials said Monday that the water in certain areas was safe to drink and wash with as long as people flushed out their systems. They cautioned that the water might still have a slight licorice-type odour.

Some residents say they're skeptical and won't drink the water anytime soon.

The crisis started when a chemical used in coal processing leaked from a Freedom Industries plant into the nearby Elk River.

News from © The Associated Press, 2014
The Associated Press

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