CLOVER, SC (WBTV) -
The mining operation at Henry's Knob mountain off Highway 55 near Clover hasn't dug out any ore in more than 40 years now, but the Environmental Protection Agency says it's what was left behind from that operation that now may be affecting the water supply in the area.
Jonny Adams has lived in Clover his whole life and has drank the water in from the shadow of Henry's Knob for 37 years.
"To taste, no there's nothing wrong with it," said Adams.
Henry's Knob Mountain was the site of a Kyanite mine, from 1947 to 1970. Kynite was used in making ceramic brick and tiles.
During the mining of the Kyanite the EPA says hazardous levels of cobalt and manganese were leaked into the ground water.
"We grind tools that are made of cobalt and manganese I really have no idea what that is," said Adams.
The EPA says 47 wells in a half mile radius of Henrys Knob have hazardous levels of both in the water.
Both Cobalt and Manganese can be cancer causing.
The EPA is holding a meeting tomorrow night to discuss the options people have for their water supply.
One is adding filters to existing wells, hauling bottled drinking water to residents for life or running a water line from the town of Clover five miles out to the site.
"We would have the capacity with our contracts with the City of Gastonia to provide water service to these properties," said Alison Harvey, Town Manager of Clover.
If the Town of Clover ran water lines to the affected area it would cost the customers at least $50 a month to pay for water.
Harvey says if water lines need to be built the Town of Clover wouldn't be able to build it.
"If it is done it would have to be done other than us and who that entity would be, I don't know," said Harvey.
"It's either going to cost the tax payers that I'm one or it's going to cost us and I'm not in favor of either," said Adams.
Either way Adams says he's been drinking his free well water for years and nothing's happened yet.
"Seems to me that it's just a scare right now, you're going to die of something and I don't think cobalt and manganese is going to kill us all," said Adams.
Both Cobalt and Manganese can be cancer causing. The Town of Clover's water supply is not affected, they buy water from Gastonia.
The EPA will hold a meeting about the well contamination and the options residents may have tomorrow night at 6 o'clock at Bethany Elementary School in Clover.
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