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NOTHING ELSE GETS LEAKED.
THE ELK RIVER, A WATER SOURCE
FOR HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS OF
PEOPLE IN WEST VIRGINIA, AND NOW
CONTAMINATED WITH A CHEMICAL
USED TO CLEAN COAL.
>> THE ONLY APPROPRIATE USE IS
TOILET FLUSHING.
DON'T WASH WITH IT, DON'T SHOWER
WITH IT.
DON'T DRINK IT.
YOU CAN'T JUST BOIL IT.
SO IT'S NOT A BOIL WATER
ADVISORY.
IT'S A DO NOT USE ADVISORY.
>> Reporter: THE CHEMICAL LEAKED
OUT OF FATS BELONGING TO FREEDOM
INDUSTRIES.
CUSTOMERS NOTICED BECAUSE IT
SMELLED STRONGLY OF BLACK
LICORICE.
THE CHEMICAL SAFETY DATA SHEET
SAYS WARNING, HARMFUL IF
SWALLOWED, CAUSES SKIN AND EYE
IRRITATION.
BUT WEST VIRGINIANS WERE EXPOSED
TO THE CHEMICAL AT VERY DILUTED
LEVELS, LEVELS THAT HAVE BEEN
GOING DOWN.
>> WE DON'T KNOW THAT THE
WATER'S NOT SAFE, BUT I CAN'T
SAY IT IS SAFE.
>> Reporter: HEALTH OFFICIALS
SAY SOME 4 TO 6 PEOPLE WERE
ADMITTED TO THE HOSPITAL WITH
PROBLEMS RELATED TO THE
CONTAMINATION, MINOR PROBLEMS
SUCH AS NAUSEA AND VOMITING.
FRIDAY THE WEST VIRGINIA
DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENTAL
PROTECTION ISSUED A CEASE ORDER
TO FREEDOM INDUSTRIES TELLING
THEM TO STOP ALL OPERATIONS.
THE COMPANY ISSUED A STATEMENT
SAYING, OUR TEAM HAS BEEN
WORKING AROUND THE CLOCK SINCE
THE DISCOVERY TO CONTAIN THE
LEAK TO PREVENT FURTHER
CONTAMIN
CONTAMINATION.
IN THE MEANTIME, SUPPLIES OF
BOTTLED WATER ARE RUNNING LOW
AND HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS OF
WEST VIRGINIANS JUST WANT TO BE
ABLE TO USE THEIR TAPS AGAIN.
>> IT COULD BE DAYS.
WE'RE WORKING TO KEEP IT VERY
SHORT.
I DON'T THINK WE'RE TALKING
WEEKS.
>> Reporter: THE ECONOMIC IMPACT
HAS BEEN REAL.
RESTAURANTS AND MANY HOTELS HAVE
CLOSED AND PATIENTS HAVE
SUFFERED, TOO.
SEVERAL HOSPITALS HAVE CANCELED
ELECTIVE SURGERIES UNTIL THE
WATER CRISIS IS OVER.
NOW, THIS FACILITY DID HAVE A
SYSTEM IN PLACE TO HANDLE THE
LEAK.