Tests show presence of chemical at W.Va. schools

Associated

CHARLESTON, W.Va.

Tests conducted more than two weeks after a chemical spill tainted the water supply for 300,000 West Virginians show the presence of the chemical remains in five schools.

The state Division of Homeland Security and Emergency Management on Friday released the results of water samples taken at 94 schools in five counties.

The chemical that spilled Feb. 9 from Freedom Industries was present in tests at Andrew Heights Elementary, George Washington High School and John Adams Middle School in Kanawha County; Buffalo High School in Putnam County; and Lincoln County High School.

The tests conducted Tuesday and Wednesday don’t detect levels of crude MCHM below 10 parts per billion, and 89 of 94 samples are listed as “non detected.”

No results were released from samples taken at 13 other schools.