Environmental groups say they've found contamination in the Yadkin River from ash ponds at Duke Energy's Buck power plant in Rowan County. Duke says the river is well protected.
Southern Environmental Law Center attorney John Suttles says the contamination appears to be an extensive problem. He told the Charlotte Observer that the groups found orange-colored leaks in a quarter-mile stretch of the Yadkin River last month.
Tests by The Waterkeeper Alliance and the Yadkin Riverkeeper found arsenic, cadmium, selenium and other elements that are present in ash at levels above health standards.
But Duke says it has extensively surveyed the area and that the orange color is often caused by harmless, naturally occurring iron bacteria.
Duke spokeswoman Erin Culbert told the newspaper that the seepage occurs at low river flows and the river is well-protected.
The Buck power plant was retired in 2013 but still stores ash. Its three ash ponds will be assigned risk ratings, under a state law enacted this year, that will determine how and when they are closed.
The state Department of Environment and Natural Resources says it will follow up with water sample tests near the Buck plant.
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