90% OF WELLS’ WATER FOUND UNFIT NEAR DUKE DAN RIVER COAL ASH SPILL

NC officials warn more near Duke ash pits not to drink water

May 21, 2015 AP via Winston-Salem Journal

The water in 191 wells, 90% of those tested within 1,000 feet Duke Energy’s 32 coal ash pits, proved unsafe to drink or cook with, according to the latest report from North Carolina’s Department of Environment and Natural Resources. The wells’ water failed to meet state groundwater standards. Many showed high levels of toxic heavy metals such as lead, vanadium and hexavalent chromium. The tests were performed in compliance with the North Carolina law instituted after the disastrous 2014 spill of coal ash from a Duke storage pond into the Dan River. Duke Energy just pleaded guilty to nine misdemeanor violations of the Clean Water Act committed by three of its subsidiaries in the Dan River spill and agreed to pay $68 million in fines that cannot be passed to customers, and $34 million for environmental projects. click here for more

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