CHARLOTTE, N.C. —
A new warning has been issued about one of the largest rivers in the Charlotte area.
An environmental group said it could impact resident's drinking water.
The Catawba River provides drinking to more than one million people in the Charlotte area, but a new report says pollution is threatening it.
The American Rivers Organization released its 2013 report of America's Most Endangered Rivers and the Catawba is No. 5 out of 10.
The report said Duke Energy's coal-fired power plants are polluting the river.
They said coal ash residue is dumped into ponds that lack liners to prevent groundwater contamination.
Duke Energy sent Channel 9 a statement calling the report disappointing.
The company said, "We consistently find that water quality along the Catawba River is good, fish are healthy and drinking water supplies are safe."
American Rivers is calling on the Department of Natural Resources to make Duke Energy clean up toxic waste from its oldest coal-fired power plant slated to close soon.
Environmental group says pollution at dangerous levels in Catawba River
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