After 8 Months, W.Va. Families to Get Water from Coal Company

A judge expects that several families will finally have clean water provided by a coal company after he ordered it eight months ago.

In a hearing Wednesday in Wyoming County Circuit Court, Judge Warren McGraw said he believes the few families without water should have it by that night.

In December 2014, McGraw approved an injunction sought by more than a dozen residents near Mechel Bluestone’s Dynamic Energy Inc. mining complex. Residents said their water supplies were damaged by the mining operations.

McGraw’s ruling said water test results submitted by the plaintiffs showed high levels of arsenic, aluminum, lead, iron and other pollutants.

It said Dynamic’s state permit requires replacing water for surrounding homes if operations damaged local wells.

Attorneys for the families said Dynamic only replaced their water intermittently.