North Carolina officials are advising dozens of residents near Duke Energy coal ash dumps not to drink or cook with water from their wells after tests showed contamination with toxic heavy metals. Though similar readings were self-reported from Duke’s own monitoring wells ringing its dumps, both the company and state health officials said last year that there was no evidence the chemicals were coming from the coal ash pits. Many residents living near the plant in the close-knit rural community of Dukeville have long been concerned that Duke’s coal ash might be making them sick.

SOURCE: Associated Press