Gov. Tomblin Considers In-Home Water Testing

Gov. Earl Ray Tomblin is evaluating options to test tap water in people’s homes after last month’s chemical spill.
 
     After the Jan. 9 chemical spill, officials have based testing at the West Virginia American Water treatment plant and various other spots across the affected region.
 
     House Speaker Tim Miley and Minority Leader Tim Armstead urged Tomblin to start representative sampling in homes across the affected nine-county area. The two lawmakers suggested making West Virginia American Water pay for the tests. But they want the state to conduct the testing.
 
     At a news conference, Tomblin said he had no plans to conduct testing for all 300,000 West Virginians affected by the spill, which spurred a water-use ban for days.
 
     But Tomblin said he would be “happy to consider” taking representative samples.