Newswise — MORGANTOWN, W.Va. – The state of emergency declared for Flint and Genesee County, Michigan, as a result of a drinking water crisis has raised new concerns about water supply contamination, safety and response.

Some West Virginia University faculty members have expertise directly related to these issues – gained from a water crisis in West Virginia almost exactly two years ago.

Authorities advised residents in parts of nine counties not to use their tap water for anything but flushing toilets after 10,000 gallons of a chemical used in washing coal, leaked into the Elk River from holding tanks. Approximately 300,000 residents were without drinking water for days.

WVU faculty members with expertise on various aspects of the leak, its impact and handling, include:

Paul Ziemkiewicz, director of the West Virginia Water Research Institute - He can be reached at [email protected] or by phone at 304.293.6958.

Michael McCawley, interim chair of the Department of Occupational and Environmental Health Sciences – He served on the Governor’s Public Water System Supply Study Commission. He can be reached at [email protected] or 304.293.8042.

Jennifer Weidhaas, assistant professor of civil and environmental engineering - She led WVU’s research on samples taken from the water system that showed how the chemical moved through the system and how effective the remediation efforts were. She can be reached at [email protected].

Todd Petty is a professor of forestry and natural resources at WVU who studies river ecology and is knowledgeable about chemical pollution and its effects on river ecosystems and fisheries. He can be reached at [email protected] or 304.376.2933.

• Jason Hubbart is a professor of forestry and director of WVU’s Institute for Water Security and Science. He can be reached at [email protected] or 304.293.4817.

Robert Duval teaches environmental politics and policy at WVU and is currently the chair for the Department of Health Policy, Management and Leadership at the School of Public Health. He can be reached at [email protected] or 304.581.1826.

• Patrick McGinley is a law professor who specializes in environmental justice, environmental impacts and regulation. He can be reached at [email protected].

• Jesse Richardson is associate professor of law and lead land use attorney at WVU where he focuses on land use and water law. He can be reached at [email protected].

• Joshua Fershee is a law professor who specializes in energy business law and regulation enforcement. He can be reached at [email protected].

West Virginia University experts can provide commentary, insights and opinions on various news topics. Search for an expert by name, title, area of expertise or college/school/department in the Experts Database at WVU Today.

-WVU-

ak/01/06/16

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