The Knoxville News Sentinel reports that the "amount of coal-ash sludge released Monday...was triple what TVA estimated." The current amount is estimated to be 5.4 million cubic yards, according to the TVA. This is the third estimate released this week, each one more severe than its predecessor. Of particular concern is the impact this disaster will have on our drinking water as runoff from the Kingston Steam Plant makes its way into the Tennessee River. The Sentinel reports that "hundreds of dead fish were floating dead downstream from the plant, Tuesday."
TVA spokesman Gil Francis attributes this development to "the freezing cold that contributed to the breach" rather than increased levels in mercury, lead, and arsenic typically found in coal ash. Yesterday, TVA responded to fears of water contamination on its web site:
Results of water sampling downstream of the plant, including at Kingston Water District intake, indicate that the concentrations of sampled contaminants were below levels established by the Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation to protect fish and aquatic life. Based on our current sampling, there is no indication, with normal treatment plant filtration, that the water would not meet drinking water standards.
Highlighting the degree of danger posed by the Harriman flood to the environment, the Chattanoogan published a release from Carol Kimmons of the Sequatchie Valley Institute, yesterday:
The Kingston spill is over 40 times bigger than the Exxon Valdez spill in Alaska, if local news accounts are correct. This is a huge environmental disaster of epic proportions; approximately 525 million gallons of nasty black coal ash flowed into tributaries of the Tennessee River - the water supply for Chattanooga and millions of people living downstream in Alabama, Tennessee and Kentucky.
And Nashville-based Enclave has information on how the disaster could have possibly been averted.
David Morton
John Kim on Dec. 26, 2008
I see pollution is going to get worse and worse, as long as humans keep over populating the world. Although it's sad, abortion is a necessity.
freweds on Dec. 27, 2008
The only people screaming are wacko environmentalists.
Yeah, its a mess.
Shit happens.
Nobody died and nobody will.
Chris Gilligan on Dec. 27, 2008
Hi freweds, no humans died, though some were critically injured. As with any large scale toxic pollution of the environment, the human health effects may not be seen immediately.
Long-term, however, the effects are likely to be serious and negative. Carol is not being wacko, she's stating facts and she is well-qualified to raise alarms where biology, geology and the environment are concerned.
After seeing the aerial video of the affected area, I'd say it's much more than a mess... it's very nearly a disaster. Sure, it only affected 6 homes, but it carried all the way to the river, and the toxics are no longer contained in a secure, lined enclosure.
We've been hearing and seeing more thoughtful and researched media coverage of the potential effects of this event; I'd hope we can all be a little more thoughtful and researched in our own critiques and feelings about a serious event that may have negative effects on our regional and local environments.
freweds on Dec. 28, 2008
More proof the only people screaming are wacho environmentalists... check out his website.
David Morton on Dec. 28, 2008
@freweds, How can you say with certainty that there will be no longterm environmental impact from this disaster? Facts are still coming out on a daily basis, and TVA's original projection for the damage has already changed twice.
Maybe you're comfortable with higher levels of mercury, et. al. in your drinking water. I am not, and to be concerned about the environmental impact of this flood (and the potential threats to public health that may/may not exist) hardly makes one an "environmental wacko."
David on Dec. 31, 2008
While the jury still is out on how unhealthy this spill will be (no one can seriously be claiming that it will have zero effect) I'm still in the camp of wondering why there was 5.4 million cubic yards of fly ash and water ready to be spilled?
dammitchris on Feb. 8, 2009
Still drinking Dasani? Do you know that it is bottled in Chattanooga. It comes from the same place that we get our tap water. It is not just a local disaster, it is being sold to lots of uninformed people.