Authorities say this is unrelated to the leak of Crude MCHM from the Freedom Industries facility, but that’s not very reassuring.
CHARLESTON, W.Va. — The Kanawha-Charleston Health Department has halted the distribution of a specific brand of bottled water in three Kanawha County schools after it was found to have a “strong odor” and “a problem with the taste,” according to a news release from the state Department of Military Affairs and Public Safety.
The smell and taste issues are not related to the chemical Crude MCHM, which contaminated the region’s drinking water. The smell was described as “musty,” and there was no mention of licorice, the smell associated with the coal-cleaning chemical.
The good news is the county has still has enough bottled water to supply to school children, and it’s possible the strong taste and odor of this particular water is harmless, but you can’t blame the locals for being wary of it.
Crude MCHM was detected in water fountains at one Kanawha County school on Monday. The contaminated Ice Mountain brand bottled water was distributed at Sharon Dawes Elementary school, John Adams Middle school, and Andrew Jackson Middle school in Kanawha County.
If this continues for much longer local schools may need stress counselors in addition to fresh water.