CHARLESTON, W.Va. — On the eve of the fifth anniversary of the Elk River chemical spill, Charleston residents gathered to better understand the importance of access to clean water and the challenges faced by communities across the country.
Several environmental organizations hosted a forum Tuesday night at Trinity Evangelical Lutheran Church to explore water justice issues as well as the long-term impact of water pollution.
Robin Blakeman, an organizer with the Ohio Valley Environmental Coalition, said the main lesson from the chemical spill was people need to stay informed about issues with their water systems.
“They need to keep in communication with their elected leaders as well as their source water providers,” she said. “People need to be aware of what is in their water and what is being done to keep it clean or not keep it clean.”
Wednesday marks the fifth anniversary of the chemical spill, in which MCHM, a coal-cleaning chemical, leaked from a tank at the Freedom Industries site. The spill affected 300,000 people and made water undrinkable.