W.Va. officials dispute formaldehyde claim

Staff reports Modified: January 29, 2014 at 8:22 pm •  Published: January 29, 2014


The dispute between the scientist and the officials underscored the steady stream of sometimes conflicting information that weary West Virginians have had to digest over the past several weeks while seeking certainty that their water is safe.





Simonton, who holds a Ph.D. in engineering, was appointed by the governor to the board that hears appeals on state water permitting and enforcement decisions. He was first appointed for his first five-year term more than a decade ago by then-Gov. Bob Wise.




"There's lot of possibilities there," he said, including the chance that any formaldehyde showing up in tests isn't a result of the chemical spill.


Initial testing at Vandalia Grille in Charleston showed traces of the chemical in the water -- twice at 32 parts per billion and once at 33 parts per billion, Simonton said. The testing took place Jan. 13, the first day some downtown Charleston businesses were able to flush their systems.

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