WVDEP conducting water testing following fluid leak in Wayne County

The WVDEP says testing has so far not shown contamination in the Town of Wayne's water system, but is still advising residents to avoid using their water while investigations continue into the leak from an AEP substation.

Robert Fields | WVOW News

TOWN OF WAYNE Residents in Wayne County were told not to drink, bathe or even cook with their tap water following an oil leak originating in the East Lynn area over the weekend.

The West Virginia Department of Environmental Protection says an act of vandalism resulted in the leak stretching from Right Fork and Camp Creek to the Twelvepole Creek area. Officials investigating the situation say around 4,900 gallons of non-PCB fluid was lost from Appalachian Power Company’s East Lynn substation.

The DEP and the state Division of Emergency Management were out on Sunday delivering pallets of bottled water to affected communities, with additional water deliveries expected today. Appalachian Power and West Virginia American Water also assisted with water distribution over the weekend.

The WVDEP said in a press release that samples are being processed to determine the level of contamination in local water supplies, but that tests have so far not indicated contamination in the Town of Wayne’s water system.

PHOTO | Vecteezy