spill much larger than originally stated (7,500 gallons, not 5,000)
. . . .
The spill began on January 9, 2014 when up to 7,500 US gallons (28,000 litres; 6,200 imperial gallons) of crude MCHM leaked from a one-inch hole in the bottom of a stainless steel storage tank capable of holding 40,000 US gallons (150,000 litres; 33,000 imperial gallons) and its containment area at Freedom Industries' Charleston facility.[10][11][13] The MCHM leaked from the containment area and into the ground, through which it traveled into the Elk River.[14] The chemical spill occurred 1 mile (1.6 km) upstream from West Virginia American Water's drinking water intake and treatment and distribution center.[10][13][14][15] The Elk River measured approximately 7 feet (2.1 m) in depth at the time of the spill.[5]
The spill was noticed around mid morning on January 9 by several Charleston area residents when they began to notice a "sweet smell" in the air.[1][10][13][14] Two Freedom Industries employees noticed leakage from the tank into the containment area around 10:30 a.m. on January 9.[3][13] According to the company's president Gary Southern, workers began cleanup immediately by hauling away the remaining MCHM in the storage tank and vacuuming the spilled MCHM from the ground nearby.[3][11][13] The West Virginia Department of Environmental Protection, whose inspectors discovered the leak at 11:10 a.m. in response to residents' complaints about the odor[3], contradicted Southern's claim. When the department's inspectors arrived at the facility, they witnessed the MCHM leaking through a concrete block containment dike with no cleanup or containment measures underway.[3][16] The West Virginia Department of Environmental Protection and the Kanawha County Fire Department had been able to locate the origin of the leak by tracing the smell.[13][14] At the time of the leak's discovery by the inspectors, the damaged storage tank contained about 30,000 US gallons (110,000 litres; 25,000 imperial gallons) of MCHM.[16]
West Virginia American Water did not detect the chemical in its water, but by 4 p.m., its carbon filtration system could no longer handle the large amount of contamination in the water and the chemical began flowing through the carbon filter.[5][12] West Virginia American Water concluded that its tap water was unsafe for use and instructed its customers to cease using its tap water at 5:45 p.m.[10][13] Freedom Industries failed to contact West Virginia American Water following the spill, and West Virginia American Water was instead notified by the West Virginia Department of Environmental Protection.[5]
Freedom Industries denied initial media inquiries following the spill.[1] The company's president Gary Southern gave a ten minute news conference on the evening of January 10.[1]
Counties (pictured) in West Virginia affected by the 2014 Elk River chemical spill.
. . . .
By 1 p.m. on January 10, the foul sweet-smelling odor was no longer detectable, according to West Virginia National Guard Adjutant, Major General James Hoyer.[5]
On January 11, West Virginia Department of Environmental Protection's chief of homeland security and emergency response, Mike Dorsey, stated that
*******7,500 US gallons (28,000 litres; 6,200 imperial gallons) of MCHM had spilled into the river, 2,500 US gallons (9,500 litres; 2,100 imperial gallons) more than had previously been estimated*******
. . .
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2014_Elk_River_chemical_spill
= new reply since forum marked as read
Yup they are privately owned and can do as they please. 
to the corporations of America, the GOP loves you. Doing what they do best! Contaminate at will. Profits before people.
Gotta say...they suck!
We have one fricking planet. I sure wish they would stop destroying it. Here is a fact, they live here too. Breath deeply my friends, have a sip of water. You have destroyed what is safe... for each and every one of us. You are not exempt to the effects.
rocktivity
BP
