Board Considers Water Line For Neighbors Of Coal Ash Ponds

A county board could OK an agreement with Duke Energy Corp. for a multi-million-dollar water line. The company is required to provide the line to neighbors of coal ash ponds.

The Rowan County Board of Commissioners scheduled a discussion on the water line to be built near the Buck Steam Station for their meeting on Monday. The line will cover more than 150 homes, with an expected cost of almost $5 million.

A state law requires Duke Energy to install either new municipal water lines or a household water treatment system to homes within a half-mile of coal ash sites. The Salisbury Post reports the installation deadline is October 2018.

It's been more than three years since liquefied coal ash containing arsenic, lead, mercury and other heavy metals spilled from a Duke Energy plant into the Dan River along the Virginia line.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.