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Jan 13 7:00 PM

Mountain State misery: Scenes from West Virginia's water crisis

by Dave Gustafson @DaveGustafson
In West Virginia, Christof Putzel speaks with Charleston Fire Department Asst. Chief Rich Simmons Saturday about bottled water distribution efforts.
On the West Side of West Virginia's capital city, Christof Putzel speaks with Charleston Fire Department Asst. Chief Rich Simmons Saturday about bottled water distribution efforts at Station 2. Last week, a chemical spill was discovered upriver from a water treatment plant that serves 300,000 West Virginians, leaving all those people to rely on bottled water for drinking, cooking and cleaning. Dave Gustafson/America Tonight
In the area around Charleston, W.Va., signs like these are a common sight anywhere that a person might use tap water that was contaminated last week.
In the area around Charleston, W.Va., signs like these ones in a West Virginia National Guard bathroom are a common sight in restrooms, on drinking fountains and anywhere else that a person might use tap water that was contaminated last week. Dave Gustafson/America Tonight
Water-distribution sites were set up in firehouses and other public buildings around the nine-county area of West Virginia affected by the tainted tap water.
Water-distribution sites were set up in firehouses and other public buildings around the nine-county area of West Virginia affected by the tainted tap water. People without transportation have to rely on family members or volunteers to bring them water to use. Dave Gustafson/America Tonight
There are two ways to handle a crisis like the water problem, says Charleston resident Darren Bacon, 42: "Go crazy or work on a game plan."
There are two ways to handle a crisis like the water problem, said Charleston resident Darren Bacon, 42 (seen here with his 3-month-old son Zay): "Go crazy or work on a game plan." His family already had a bunch of bottled water for Zay when the do-not-use order came down. Since then, friends and family have offered them bottled water and places to bathe. And when it comes to not showering, "a man is grody and dirty anyway," he joked. Dave Gustafson/America Tonight
Cross Lanes resident David King picked up a used washing machine Saturday for his sister, but they're not sure when she'll be able to use it.
Cross Lanes resident David King picked up a used washing machine Saturday for his sister, but they're not sure when she'll be able to use it. After the water crisis began, King's family put out tubs to collect rainwater, but they didn't get much. They've been using a lot of paper plates – and he was considering a 45-minute drive to his daughter's house to take a shower. Dave Gustafson/America Tonight
Rob Goodwin of Coal River Mountain Watch tells Christof Putzel about his canoe trip to test the toxicity of the water near the site of last week's chemical leak.
Rob Goodwin of Coal River Mountain Watch speaks with Christof Putzel about his canoe trip up the Elk River in Charleston, W.Va., to test the toxicity of the water near the site of last week's chemical leak. Dave Gustafson/America Tonight
Water Defense is another organization doing its own water-quality tests on the Elk River and the tap water in Charleston.
Water Defense is another organization doing its own water-quality tests on the Elk River and the tap water in Charleston. Here, chief scientist Scott Smith describes the way a green membrane called OpFlex can be used to test water quality and absorb waterborne impurities. Dave Gustafson/America Tonight
Scott Smith and his crew from Water Defense are testing the quality of tap water in a hotel bathtub near the scene of last week's chemical spill in Charleston.
Scott Smith and his crew from Water Defense filled a hotel bathtub near the scene of last week's chemical spill in Charleston. They sliced up a sheet of OpFlex then let it soak in the tainted tap water for a few hours before cutting up strips and bottling them. The samples are being sent away for water-quality tests. Dave Gustafson/America Tonight

Tune in Monday at 9 p.m. ET/6 PT for Christof Putzel's water crisis report.

CHARLESTON, W.Va. – How many times have you used water in the past day?

You probably washed your hands, rinsed a dish, brushed your teeth, took a shower, had a glass of water, maybe did some laundry and so on. 

Now, imagine not being able to do any of that.

Since Thursday, 300,000 West Virginians have been unable to use their tap water for anything except flushing the toilet. A chemical used to treat coal before it's burned was discovered leaking into the Elk River in Charleston upriver from a water treatment plant that serves nine counties. As of Monday, water restrictions were starting to lift.

America Tonight spent the weekend in the Charleston area, speaking with people whose lives have been disrupted by this disaster as well as some environmentalists doing their own water quality tests.

More coverage of the West Virginia Water Crisis

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Pollution, Water

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