BY ROGER SMITH
MOUNTAIN CITIZEN

WAYNE, W.Va. — Town officials lifted the protective order on Wayne’s drinking water supply Friday following three weeks of disruption tied to a mineral oil release at an Appalachian Power facility.

Wayne Mayor Danny Grace officially ended the order at approximately 2:30 p.m. Feb. 7, according to the West Virginia Department of Health. The decision followed recent laboratory testing that found no detectable levels of mineral oil or PCBs in the Wayne municipal water system.

Residents may now resume all normal water uses, including drinking and cooking, health officials said.

The incident began Jan. 13 when alleged vandalism at Appalachian Power’s East Lynn substation led to the discharge of approximately 4,900 gallons of mineral oil from a transformer into the Right Fork of Camp Creek. The spill moved through Camp Creek toward Twelvepole Creek, according to the West Virginia Division of Environmental Protection.

In response, Grace issued a “do not consume” order for Wayne municipal water customers as cleanup efforts got underway.

As the outage continued, Wayne County officials established emergency shower and laundry stations and distributed bottled water to residents. Shower services operated at multiple locations, with bottled water distribution also organized in Wayne and East Lynn.

State health officials said the lifting of the protective order came after completion of recommended residential flushing procedures and confirmation through lab results that the water system showed no presence of mineral oil or PCBs.

Officials advised that any health concerns related to the incident should be discussed with a primary care provider.

On Monday, consumer advocate Erin Brockovich issued a public caution to Wayne residents emphasizing that restored service does not automatically mean household plumbing is fully cleared. In a social media post, Brockovich wrote that “SAFE and regulatory compliant are not the same thing.” She warned that water that sits stagnant in pipes during an outage can accumulate bacteria, metals and sediment.

Brockovich urged residents to flush home plumbing systems thoroughly before resuming normal use.

On Tuesday, the West Virginia Department of Health issued a boil water advisory for Wayne Water customers due to low tank levels.

According to news reports, residents say they are still afraid to drink the water and that it has a “chemical smell.”

How to flush your home plumbing after an outage

Brockovich recommends the following steps to clear stagnant water and debris from household pipes:

• Remove faucet and showerhead aerators and bypass filters. If possible, disconnect water softeners.
• Protect your water heater by closing the water heater inlet valve to prevent contaminated water from entering the tank. Flush the heater separately according to the manufacturer’s instructions.
• Flush cold water lines beginning at the lowest level of the home, such as a basement faucet, then work upward, floor by floor.
• Open all cold-water taps and let them run simultaneously for at least 30 minutes. Water may appear discolored at first.
• Turn faucets off in reverse order, starting at the lowest level and working your way up.
• Clean and reinstall aerators. Soak aerators in vinegar if needed before reinstalling.
• Flush appliances separately. Refrigerator ice makers, water dispensers and other water-dependent appliances may require additional flushing. Discard the first batch of ice.