Three
months after the Jan. 9 Freedom Industries chemical spill on the Elk
River, officials with the Kanawha-Charleston Health Department are leading
an effort to learn the lessons of the spill that contaminated the tap
water for 300,000 West Virginians .
On
Tuesday night, the Board of Health’s phone survey of more than 450 residents
about the chemical spill ended. Officials will now review the results of
the extensive scientific survey, which included 70 questions, before releasing
a report to the community next month.
“The
most important part that has not been studied to the level we feel it should
have been is the human and economic impact upon individuals and households and
families,” said Dr. Rahul Gupta, chief health officer for the
Kanawha-Charleston Health Department.
Gupta
said the survey looked at the physical, psychological and social impacts of the
spill, the costs associated with the spill – including water purchases,
work days lost and additional child care expenses due to school closures – and
the communications during the water emergency from federal, state and local
officials.
On
Tuesday, the Kanawha-Charleston Board of Health voted to join the City of Charleston
Board
members estimated the health department spent about $200,000 because of the
leak at Freedom Industries and will be seeking reimbursement.
