On the same day the WV legislature passed our Sludge Safety Project’s resolution requiring the state to study the impacts of underground coal sludge injection on drinking water wells and human health, municipal water started flowing out of taps into homes in a couple of Mingo County communities.

Soon after, the water project was completed. It serves about 700 people living in Lick Creek, Rawl, Merrimac and Sprigg, some of whom are OVEC members who actively worked to make certain the legislature passed the coal sludge study resolution.

"We tried for 13 years on our own, but once we partnered with OVEC, people started paying attention.  OVEC gave us expertise, help, and contacts to get us clean water here," said Lick Creek residents Debbie and B.I. Sammons.

"The residents are tickled to death to have good, clean city water," J.B. Heflin, project manager for the Mingo Co. Public Service District told the Williamson Daily News.

Indeed. These folks had been battling for over 13 years to get city water. A nearby coal prep plant had injected billions of gallons of coal sludge underground for decades. People’s once-pure well water became contaminated, sometimes running black, sometimes orange and always stinky. Many area families reported strange health problems, such as boils and rashes and kidney stones in young children.

"We had to force ourselves to bathe in the nasty water," said Rawl resident Ernie Brown.

"Things other people take for granted – we had to do different. We had to pack in water. Everything was a major task. We didn’t really want to clean the tub – it didn’t do any good. We were embarrassed to have people over because of the smell from the water."

Ernie still finds himself reaching for a jug instead of the tap to make the morning coffee. Carmelita, his wife, keeps opening the washing machine lid to make certain the water hasn’t turned black as she washes clothes.

But, now that the cleaner city water is flowing into their house, baths are a pleasure. They can actually smell the soap and shampoo. Their skin feels different and doesn’t itch after a shower. Ernie and Carm now crave water. They have more energy and aren’t sleepy all the time, as the fumes from the nasty water have cleared out of their home. They have visitors over without worrying about the water.

Carm, like her husband and so many of her neighbors in all four communities, is relieved to finally have potable water. "I praise God and I thank Him every day."