Community shares concerns with orange colored creek

MINGO COUNTY, W.Va. (WSAZ) – Norfolk Southern was working on routine maintenance near Delbarton, and that’s when the West Virginia Department of Environmental Protection (WVDEP) said iron deposits on abandoned mine land made their way into Pigeon Creek.

WVDEP: Orange creek water likely from iron deposits

The sight of orange water is one Mingo County won’t forget.

Madisyn Curry said, “It’s kind of like a pumpkin color.”

Lauren Goodman, who works at Cafe and Cakes, said, “I grew up playing in the creeks. I know a lot of kids do, so it is concerning because, you know, we don’t want them playing in creeks like that looking like that.”

With more than 60 years in the area, Gail Lendearo said water coming out by the railroad tracks is normal, but it’s the first time she’s seen it turn the whole creek orange.

“I wouldn’t want my grandchildren, I wouldn’t want them playing in it or drinking it,” Lendearo said.

The DEP said the iron-related materials from abandoned mines can lower oxygen in the water.

On Thursday, the Division of Natural Resources found that a minor population of fish had died in the creek.

Curry said, “I am concerned about the animals and stuff in the creek just because they swim in it and they drink it and they bathe in it and it may not be harmful to us, but they react to things differently than humans do.”

Several neighbors said their well water is constantly orange, and they don’t drink it.

“If I run a tub of water and let it sit overnight, it’s orange,” Lendearo said. Not real orange, but it’ll turn my bathtub orange.”

The DEP said properly maintained wells shouldn’t be impacted, but in Mingo County, water quality is unpredictable.

Curry said, “You never know when your water is going to be on or off. I feel like the southern part of the state always gets the short end of the stick.”

Lendearo said the community deserves better.

“If you’ve got running water in your house, I’d like you to be able to drink it and not have to go out and buy bottled water,” she said.

The DEP said Norfolk Southern has put controls in place and removed iron material from their property. Crews are still working to repair controls to prevent future problems.

The DEP also said the iron material comes from what they call a pre-law mine, and there was a project already in place to prevent a sudden release.

Their Office of Abandoned Mine Lands is now working on long-term solutions with Norfolk Southern to prevent a similar situation in the future.