Bad Water? Better Organize Now to Help!

Over half a million people in West Virginia rely on private wells as their primary water source. Coal companies have been injecting sludge underground all over the state for decades. Since 2000, the WV Dept. of Environmental Protection’s records show 400 coal slurry injections into abandoned underground mines. How much of our precious groundwater has been lost? How many people have lost their health to water contaminated by sludge?

Sludge Safety Project members have been working for over a year to find all records of sludge injections, but we know that we are only hitting the tip of the iceberg. Until studies show us the true impact of these injections, it only makes sense that the state places a moratorium on injections and coal sludge dams – no more sludge until we know what it is doing to our people, our water and our land.

The DEP says all problems predate their process for permitting sludge injections. Yet DEP’s "process" relies on coal companies’ word to ensure slurry injections meet safe drinking water standards. Chad Board, head of the DEP’s Underground Injections Control Program, said in a hearing, "Since we began the process, we haven’t had any adverse environmental impacts to date." Correction – they have recorded no adverse environmental impacts to date.

Looking away from a problem – claiming you do not see it – is no proof that it does not exist. All we are asking is that someone opens their eyes to take a long hard look at the impact that West Virginia has suffered.

We cannot live without clean water. West Virginia and the Appalachian Mountains are one of the major sources of fresh water that supply the East Coast.

Dumping sludge into our precious water and burying headwater streams is senseless. Organize to save our water! Join the Sludge Safety Project!