Coal ash sites worry Belmont residents

BELMONT, N.C. — Several Belmont residents are worried coal ash sites they didn't know about could be contaminating their water.

In the 1990s, Duke Energy buried 800,000 tons of coal ash at a horse farm and on Holy Angels property in Belmont.

Duke spokesperson, Catherine Butler, said, "It can be used as fill material instead of dirt so back in the 1990s, Duke Energy upon the request of different land owners, provided coal ash to be used as fill material."

EJ Smith didn't know there were unlined coal ash sites near his home when his family moved in seven years ago.

Now, he will only drink his water after installing a $7,000 filtration system.

He said private tests revealed alarming results.

"Vanadium and Hexavalent Chromium are the two with the biggest health risks," Smith said.

"My fear is what's in my children. How much of this stuff is in my kids right now."

The owner of the horse pasture told Channel 9 by phone, he is not worried about any contamination from coal ash.

Holy Angels sent Channel 9 a statement.

It read in part, "We were not informed of any risks" and, "We share our neighbors' concerns about water quality and support the further study of this important issue."

State environmental officials said they're looking into residents' water concerns.

Tom Reeder, NC DENR assistant secretary for the environment, said, "We're basically trying to see if the levels that have been found in these wells are what we would expect from the natural conditions."

Smith wants answers for his family and his neighbors.

State environmental officials said if they suspect these coal ash sites are the cause of any water contamination.

They could require the property owner or Duke to install ground water monitors.

It's too early to tell whether that will happen.

Duke said when they completed those fill sites in the 1990s, they transferred the title of the coal ash to the property owners.

If residents have concerns about well water or have results of private tests to share, they should contact their county Health Department.

Camp Hope Issued a statement on the use of coal ash:

"In 1998 Duke Power Company approached Holy Angels about creating more usable space at our Camp Hope recreational facility on Lake Wylie by using coal ash as structural fill. We were not informed of any risks associated with coal ash and agreed to the proposal. It has not been determined whether the coal ash deposited by Duke Power on our property has caused any groundwater contamination. We share our neighbors' concerns about water quality and support the further study of this important issue.

Our Holy Angels priority is to not only provide the compassionate care and safety for the medically fragile men, women and children we serve daily, but to strive continuously for the utmost wellbeing of our greater community."

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