In the city of Denmark, S.C., residents are dealing with the effects of being exposed to the chemical HaloSan in their water.
According to WRDW, there is no timeline for a solution and people are in limbo. Dozens lined up to get clean water behind Denmark Furniture, including William Stewart.
“Without purified water, clear water, you might as well die,” Stewart said to WRDW. “You can’t survive off of bad water.”
The people of Denmark used the bad water without knowing for at least 10 years. According to WRDW, the water was being injected with the chemical not approved by the Environmental Protection Agency.
“I can’t find the words to express myself,” Stewart said to WRDW.
Now that residents know about HaloSan being used in the water, they rely on bottled water. According to WRDW, residents are taking on the water crisis now.
“This help, but it’s no good for the future,” Stewart said.
Around 100,000 water bottled have been handed out in the last two months, 12,000 gal of water in total.
“These distribution are a temporary fix to us getting real answers,” said Deanna Miller-Berry, member of Denmark Citizens for Safe Water.
According to WRDW, residents are waiting for answers in the form of class action lawsuits. First, demanding to know how the chemical got into the water in the first place and second, for a solution.
“People are now listening and people are now believing the facts,” Miller-Berry said to WRDW.
Residents are also petitioning Gov. Henry McMaster to declare Denmark in a state of emergency. According to WRDW, this would bring relief and safe water into the town. Many residents worry the donations behind the distributions are running dry. The distribution on Dec. 29 was the town’s third. All three distributions have been sponsored by Walmart where the 754 cases of water were handed out.