Author Archives: Sarah Caldwell

NC DENR Dan River Water Quality: pH, Conductivity, Dissolved Oxygen, and Temperature

The North Carolina Department of Environment and Natural Resources conducted tests in the Dan River for pH, Specific Conductance, Temperature, and Dissolved Oxygen.  They say, “Initial water quality testing performed by DENR staff on site at Duke Energy’s Dan River power plant on Tuesday showed no deviation from normal levels of temperature, pH, dissolved oxygen and conductivity due to the release of water and ash from the facility’s coal ash impoundment…These initial results do NOT mean the water is safe. DENR staff are continuing to sample and test the water. On Tuesday, the first round of water samples were delivered to a lab in Raleigh for further testing for heavy metals, sulfates, nutrients (nitrogen and phosphorus), and total suspended solids.”

field parameters and initial testing results- full pdf

field parameters and initial testing results- full pdf

NC DENR Dan River Preliminary Water Quality Test Results

The North Carolina Department of Environment and Natural Resources published test results from water quality testing on the Dan River. The following is an explanation about the tests they conducted:

“State test results completed Thursday for a number of water quality parameters, including 17 metals, show no violations of state water quality standards for most samples taken Monday and Tuesday near the site of the coal ash spill in Eden. Test results for the remaining parameters will be released as soon as they are available.

One metal, copper, was above the state action level surface water standard both Monday and Tuesday. Because copper is a naturally occurring element in North Carolina waters, action level exceedances are used to trigger further investigation. While levels of copper decreased significantly on Tuesday, DENR will continue to monitor copper and the other elements.

North Carolina has established its federally approved water quality standards based on scientific data designed to protect human health and the aquatic environment.

DENR is still waiting on metals analysis to be completed for boron, titanium, vanadium, iron, cobalt, beryllium, aluminum, selenium, lithium, manganese and strontium. A monitoring plan to characterize coal ash in the river bed and along the river banks is in development and will be implemented in the coming days.”

preliminary dan river water quality test results- full pdf

preliminary dan river water quality test results- full pdf

NC DENR Dan River Water Quality Testing Sites

The North Carolina Department of Environment and Natural Resources has released a map for water quality testing sites on the Dan River.  They say, “The map shows three sampling locations: Draper Landing, just downstream of the spill site; downstream of the spill site at the Virginia line; and upstream at a location on Hwy 14. All of the sampling sites are at bridge crossings. The map also shows locations where DENR conducts regular testing.”

coal ash spill NCDENR water testing site- full pdf

coal ash spill NCDENR water testing site- full pdf

NC Dan River Coal Ash Spill Photos

On February 4th, Appalachian Voices Staff paddled down the Dan River to collect water samples and see the coal ash spill site first hand.

(Photo Eric Chance)

(Photo Eric Chance)

(Photo Eric Chance)

(Photo Eric Chance)

Volunteers from the Dan River Basin Association, graduate students from Duke University and Appalachian Voices Staff paddled down the Dan River to collect water samples and see the coal ash spill site first hand.  (Photo: Eric Chance)

Volunteers from the Dan River Basin Association, graduate students from Duke University and Appalachian Voices Staff paddled down the Dan River to collect water samples and see the coal ash spill site first hand.
(Photo: Eric Chance)

Duke University students collect sediment samples of coal ash pulled from the river bottom at Draper Landing, approximately two miles downstream from the spill. Note the difference in between the normal river sediment (on the stairs) and the sediment contaminated with coal ash (in the containers).  (Photo: Eric Chance

Duke University students collect sediment samples of coal ash pulled from the river bottom at Draper Landing, approximately two miles downstream from the spill. Note the difference in between the normal river sediment (on the stairs) and the sediment contaminated with coal ash (in the containers).
(Photo: Eric Chance

Sediment on the left is from downstream of the spill, and sediment on the right is from upstream.

Sediment on the left is from downstream of the spill, and sediment on the right is from upstream.

North Carolina Division of Water Quality Employees taking reference water samples upstream of the spill.  (Photo Eric Chance)

North Carolina Division of Water Quality Employees taking reference water samples upstream of the spill.
(Photo Eric Chance)

Dan River Stream Station. Volunteers from the Dan River Basin Association, graduate students from Duke University and Appalachian Voices Staff paddled down the Dan River to collect water samples and see the coal ash spill site first hand.  (Photo: Eric Chance)

Dan River Stream Station. Volunteers from the Dan River Basin Association, graduate students from Duke University and Appalachian Voices Staff paddled down the Dan River to collect water samples and see the coal ash spill site first hand.
(Photo: Eric Chance)

(Photo Eric Chance)

(Photo Eric Chance)

Volunteers from the Dan River Basin Association, graduate students from Duke University and Appalachian Voices Staff paddled down the Dan River to collect water samples and see the coal ash spill site first hand.  (Photo: Matt Wasson)

Volunteers from the Dan River Basin Association, graduate students from Duke University and Appalachian Voices Staff paddled down the Dan River to collect water samples and see the coal ash spill site first hand.
(Photo: Matt Wasson)

Coal ash contamination in the Dan River at the Danville, VA drinking water intake. Approximately 20 miles downstream from the spill.  (Photo: Eric Chance)

Coal ash contamination in the Dan River at the Danville, VA drinking water intake. Approximately 20 miles downstream from the spill.
(Photo: Eric Chance)

Matt Wasson samples the Dan River at the Danville, VA drinking water intake. Approximately 20 miles downstream from the spill.  (Photo: Eric Chance)

Matt Wasson samples the Dan River at the Danville, VA drinking water intake. Approximately 20 miles downstream from the spill.
(Photo: Eric Chance)

WV MCHM School Water Sample data January 31- February 3

School water sample information provided by the West Virginia Division of Homeland Security and Emergency Management. This sampling was conducted between 1-31-14 and 2-3-14. The department has not published any information about who did these tests. These results are all for 4-methylcyclohexane methanol.

Copy of SCHOOL SAMPLE COLLECTION AS OF 1440_31JAN14 SCHOOL SAMPLE

COLLECTION AS OF 1720_31JAN14 SCHOOL SAMPLE COLLECTION AS OF 2145_31JAN14

SCHOOL SAMPLE COLLECTION AS OF 2221_31JAN14

SCHOOL SAMPLE COLLECTION AS OF 2330_31JAN14

SCHOOL SAMPLE COLLECTION AS OF 2000 1FEB14

SCHOOL SAMPLE COLLECTION AS OF 2045 3FEB14

DEP Spill Hotline Audio from Freedom Industries

The following is the audio from the phone call reporting the MCHM spill at Freedom Industries on January 9th.  Some key parts of the phone call include the caller, Dan Reynolds, when asked what happened, responding by saying, “umm all i can tell you is they discovered a hole in the back and there is material leaking out of the tank…” When asked what was leaking, he responded, “It is a mixture of a lot of things, principally it is 4-methylcyclohexanemethanol…”  When asked if the material was hazardous or toxic he responded, “No.” He also said the spill, “…is located right on the elk river and right now the dike is containing materials and we do not anticipate it going into the river.”

Spill Hotline Audio

 

Dan River Coal Ash Spill February 3, 2014

 

On Monday, February 3rd, 2014 Duke Energy reported that 50,000 to 82,000 tons of coal ash and up to 27 million gallons of water were spilled into the Dan River from a pond at a retired power plant in Eden, NC.  According to Duke Energy, a 48-inch stormwater pipe that was beneath the 27-acre ash pond ruptured, causing the spill. The Charlotte Observer is covering the spill.

Dan River Coal Ash Spill February 3, 2014

Dan River Coal Ash Spill February 3, 2014