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State releases additional water quality test results from Dan River coal ash spill
Story Date: 2/13/2014
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Source: NCDENR, 2/12/14
State test results completed this week showed that levels of arsenic have fallen below the state surface water standards for both human health and aquatic life in areas downstream of last week’s coal ash spill in the Dan River.
Arsenic levels in the Dan River have fallen to the detection level of 2 parts per billion at both Draper Landing and at the Virginia line. Both the surface water and drinking water standards to protect human health are 10 parts per billion, significantly higher than the sample results taken from the Dan River on Feb. 5 and Feb. 6.
In addition, tests show copper levels have also fallen below state surface water standards for human health, the only standard for which copper is measured. Levels of both arsenic and copper have continued to decrease over time at all water quality sampling locations.
Aluminum and iron levels, while decreasing downstream of the spill, remained elevated above state surface water quality standards, according to the state agency’s test results released Wednesday.
The remaining 35 of the 39 water quality parameters analyzed as part of the agency’s water testing near the spill continued to meet regulated levels for protection of human health and aquatic life, the N.C. Department of Environment and Natural Resources reported. The latest results are for water samples collected Feb. 5 and Feb. 6.
“It is good news that arsenic and copper levels have continued to decrease and are now within normal levels,” said Tom Reeder, director of the N.C. Division of Water Resources. “However, I want to stress that we remain very concerned about the effects of this spill on the river’s long-term health. The N.C. Department of Environment and Natural Resources is committed to working through cleanup efforts on the Dan River, and to monitoring this site for any future impacts. We’re in this for the long haul.”
Weather permitting, DENR staff members will continue to conduct water quality sampling upstream and downstream of the spill and have also begun collecting sediment samples near the site of the spill. The state agency will release results of tests conducted in the wake of the spill as they are available.
For more information about the coal ash spill, including the most recent test results, visit http://danriverspill.ncdenr.gov/
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