Cincinnati closes Ohio River intake to prevent contamination after train derailment
IN JUST A FEW HOURS, OHIO RIVER INTAKE WILL SHUTDOWN, OUT OF PRECAUTION. THIS IS DUE TO THE TRAIN DERAILMENT WE’VE BEEN TALKING ABOUT AND CHEMICALS THAT WERE TRAVELING IN THE OHIO RIVER. EXPERTS TELL US THEY’RE CONFIDENT THE WATER IS SAFE, AND ARE CLOSELY MONITORING THE SITUATION. WLWT’S RACHEL HIRSHEIMER IS JOINING US LIVE. SHE’S HERE TO EXPLAIN HOW CREWS ARE WORKING TO MAKE SURE THE WATER COMING OUT OF YOUR FAUCETS IS SAFE. HELLO RACHEL. >> THE EXPERTS WE ARE SPEAKING WITH AT GREATER CINCINNATI WATER WORKS TELL US SHUTTING OFF THE INTAKE FROM THE OHIO RIVER, IS COMPLETELY OUT OF AN ABUNDANCE OF CAUTION, FOLLOWING THE TRAIN DERAILMENT IN EAST PALESTINE. EARLY TOMORROW MORNING, AROUND 5:00 OR SO GREATER CINCINNATI , WATER WORKS WILL SHUT OFF THE OHIO RIVER INTAKE AHEAD OF THE ANTICIPATED ARRIVAL OF THE LAST DETECTABLE CHEMICAL CONCENTRATION IN THE RIVER. THAT CHEMICAL SCIENTISTS ARE LOOKING FOR IS CALLED BUTYL ACRYLATE. RIGHT NOW, THE SAMPLES BEING TESTED SHOW THE WATER IS COMPLETELY SAFE TO DRINK. EARLY TOMORROW MORNING, IS WHEN SMALL TRACES OF THIS CHEMICAL, BUTYL ACRYLATE, COULD PASS THROUGH THIS PART OF THE OHIO RIVER. THE NORTHERN KENTUCKY WATER DISTRICT SAID TODAY IT’S IN CLOSE CONTACT WITH ORSANCO AND ITS PARTNERS TO TRACK THIS CHEMICAL THAT WAS DETECTED AT LOW LEVELS IN THE OHIO RIVER FAR UPSTREAM OF GREATER CINCINNATI’S WATER SUPPLY INTAKES. THAT’S WHY INTAKE FROM THE OHIO RIVER WILL BE SHUTDOWN OUT OF AN ABUNDANCE OF CAUTION. >> THE WATER IS SAFE, THE WATER IS SAFE WHERE WE DO AN EXCELLENT JOB OF TREATING THE WATER. THERE’S NO REASON TO GO OUT AND BUY MUCH OF BOTTLED WATER. THERE’S NO REASON TAKE THOSE KINDS OF PRECAUTIONS. WE’RE DOING EVERYTHING THAT WE CAN AND WE’RE SURE THE WATER IS SAFE. >> AGAIN, WE HAVE BEEN TOLD THE WATER IS COMPLETELY SAFE TO DRINK. WHILE THE WATER INTAKE IS SHUT OFF FROM THE OHIO RIVER, GREATER CINCINNATI WATER WORKS WILL TEMPORARILY SWITCH TO WATER RESERVES, THERE WILL NOT -- THAT WILL NOT IMPACT CUSTOMERS. JATARA: AFTER THEY SHUT DOWN INTO A FROM THE OHIO RIVER, IS THERE ANY KIND OF TIMELINE IN TERMS WHEN WE CAN EXPECT IT TO REOPEN? -- IN TERMS OF WHEN WE CAN EXPECT IT TO REOPEN? >> THEY DO NOT HAVE AN EXACT TIMELINE, THEY ARE GOING TO CLOSELY MONITOR THE WATER AND IF THEY DO NOT DETECT TH
Cincinnati closes Ohio River intake to prevent contamination after train derailment
Greater Cincinnati Water Works officials are continuing to monitor the chemical contaminants traveling down the Ohio River following the train derailment in East Palestine.Officials said GCWW shut the water intake from the Ohio River at 2 a.m. Sunday.Officials said they will continue to monitor river flow and make a decision in the future about when to reopen the intake.The decision comes more than two weeks after a massive train derailment hours away in East Palestine, Ohio.Some of the train cars that derailed were carrying industrial chemicals that spilled into the Ohio River through a nearby creek.GCWW said it has been testing the water since the derailment. GCWW tested 159 water samples and none show detectable levels of the chemicals. The testing involved four chemicals -- butyl acrylate, vinyl chloride, ethylene glycol monobutyl ether, and ethylhexyl acrylate.The chemicals are used in industrial processes including the production of lacquers, enamels, inks, adhesives, paint thinners and industrial cleaners.GCWW said it will continue regular sampling for the foreseeable future to ensure a supply of safe and healthy drinking water is available for GCWW customers.GCWW said it also plans to use additional optimized treatment once the intakes are reopened, even if no chemicals are detected.Northern Kentucky Water District made the same decision and closed its Ohio River intake out of precaution Sunday.
CINCINNATI —Greater Cincinnati Water Works officials are continuing to monitor the chemical contaminants traveling down the Ohio River following the train derailment in East Palestine.
Officials said GCWW shut the water intake from the Ohio River at 2 a.m. Sunday.
Officials said they will continue to monitor river flow and make a decision in the future about when to reopen the intake.
The decision comes more than two weeks after a massive train derailment hours away in East Palestine, Ohio.
Some of the train cars that derailed were carrying industrial chemicals that spilled into the Ohio River through a nearby creek.
GCWW said it has been testing the water since the derailment. GCWW tested 159 water samples and none show detectable levels of the chemicals.
The testing involved four chemicals -- butyl acrylate, vinyl chloride, ethylene glycol monobutyl ether, and ethylhexyl acrylate.
The chemicals are used in industrial processes including the production of lacquers, enamels, inks, adhesives, paint thinners and industrial cleaners.
GCWW said it will continue regular sampling for the foreseeable future to ensure a supply of safe and healthy drinking water is available for GCWW customers.
GCWW said it also plans to use additional optimized treatment once the intakes are reopened, even if no chemicals are detected.
Northern Kentucky Water District made the same decision and closed its Ohio River intake out of precaution Sunday.