Concerns Growing Over Coal Ash Basins

CHARLOTTE, NC– Concern is growing tonight over water quality near the Duke Energy coal ash basins.

Nearly a dozen people staged a die-in outside the company’s headquarters in uptown today.

Earlier this month, the State lifted a Do Not Drink Advisory for well owners living near power plants like the Allen Steam Station in Belmont.

Residents across the area say they still don’t think their water is safe to drink.

Matthews residents Nikola Taylor says “Anybody would understand how confused that community is, to get a letter saying, ‘don’t drink your water,’ and to have a year of fear and frustration about not being able to use your water and then to get a letter, ‘oh now it’s fine.'”

A Duke Energy spokesperson says a year of study and research has proven the coal ash basins have no impact on well water.

The State Department of Environmental Quality will hold two public meetings tomorrow night to discuss the coal ash basins and what should be done with them. One starts at six at Gaston College in Dallas. The other is at six on West Innes Street in Salisbury.