Arsenic found in Ritchie County water, officials seek funding

ELLENBORO, W.Va. (WBOY) — Ritchie County residents went to the Ellenboro Town Hall Thursday night to express concerns after testing revealed that water in the Highland-Hebron area, which is in the northern part of the county, contained lead and arsenic.

The testing was done after Highland-Hebron residents addressed the mayors of Ellenboro and Pennsboro about not having enough water and their desire to be added to a water expansion project that runs along WV Route 74. The water was then tested to ensure its safety, but when the results came back, it showed that about 85 to 90 percent of the residents’ water contained lead and arsenic.

Officials with the county said that they’ve reached out to state officials to find the funding to address the situation.

“We’re just trying to push for water development here. It’s a critical needs project with multiple difficult chemicals involved, and we’re trying to do everything we can to drum up support and get some funding for this project,” West Virginia Delegate Trenton Barnhart (R-Ritchie) told 12 News.

According to the National Library of Medicine , if arsenic is not detected and removed via filtration, a variety of serious, yet common medical conditions can arise, some of which can be life-threatening. These conditions can include:

• Diabetes
• Hypertension
• Skin, renal, bladder and lung cancers

Though no illnesses related to this incident have been reported in Ritchie County, residents are still concerned about the effects. 12 News spoke with Ritchie County resident Beverly Haynes, who said that her water has had an odor and bad taste for more than a year.

“It was total shock when we found out it was arsenic and lead. I mean you’re just floored, you’re thinking things like sulfur, you think things like, you know, high iron. You just really don’t realize the poisons, the absolute poisons we’ve been drinking or have been bathing in,” Haynes said. “I don’t think it’s a lot to expect. We want clean water.”

Pennsboro Mayor Robert Riggs said that the town already has more than $20 million worth of grant projects for water and sewer happening, which has given them an avenue to eventually secure the funds for this project.

“Right now, we are working with Thrasher Engineering, and they come up with the preliminary cost for this project which affects Pennsboro and Ellenboro both at $7.1 million. So, we’re looking at different grant projects to try and get this funded,” Riggs said.

The next step in the project will have officials with the towns sit down with Thrasher Engineering and Senator Shelley Moore Capito (R-WV) to discuss the application process and what the towns would need to qualify for funding.

12 News will continue to follow this story as it develops.

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