Drinking water supply resumes after Ohio River spill

The US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) says drinking water is safe to use following the cleanup of the diesel that spilled into the Ohio River from Duke Energy’s Beckjord power plant.

Water supply has been resumed in greater Cincinnati and northern Kentucky, following cleanup operations.

The 3,500 gallons of diesel spilled into Ohio River during a regular transfer at Duke Energy’s W.C. Beckjord Station, approximately 20 miles east of Cincinnati on Monday night.

Following the spill, the Greater Cincinnati Waterworks and the Northern Kentucky Water District stopped drinking water supply from the river.

In order to contain the spill, the EPA worked in collaboration with the US Coast Guard (USCG), the Ohio EPA, the Kentucky Department of Environmental Protection and Pierce Township (Ohio).

USCG had also closed approximately 15 miles of the river after the spill, which was reopened on Tuesday with some restrictions.

Duke Energy is paying for the cleanup, which is costing around $250,000 per day.

Duke Energy spokesperson Sally Thelen had acknowledged that the fuel discharge was a result of "manual error" and not mechanical.

The authorities are still continuing to monitor water samples in the affected areas to check whether drinking water has been contaminated.

Duke Energy Midwest Commercial Generation president and vice-president of gas operations Chuck Whitlock said: "Significant progress has been made with the remediation effort.

"We are monitoring cleanup operations around the clock."