Officials with the City of Wheeling’s Water Department want to assure all customers that the drinking water was never compromised by the recent chemical spill from the East Palestine train derailment. 

Superintendent Lori Siburt explained the substance, Butyl Acrylate was discovered in the river water on Feb. 8-9, but it was never found in the drinking water and has not been detected in any river sample since 3 p.m., Thursday, Feb. 9. 

“We implemented an enhanced sampling protocol, closed our river intake for approximately eight hours, ran our ground water wells and added Powder Activated Carbon to our process. We continue to sample and test the Ohio River water and drinking water daily,” she said. “The health and safety of our customers is our priority.”