FREDERICKTOWN, Mo. — The water supply of Fredericktown wasn't contaminated by the recent fire at the Critical Minerals Recovery (CMR) lithium battery plant, according to the Missouri Department of Natural Resources.
The department on Friday announced preliminary testing results of samples it took from both the city of Fredericktown and nearby Madison County Public Water Supply District #1 wells. The department analyzed the samples for various chemicals considered to be drinking water contaminants and didn't find unsafe levels in either.
Further contaminant testing is ongoing.
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"MoDNR continues to analyze for remaining contaminants, though it could take several days before that testing is complete," the department said. "MoDNR will provide the results of that analysis when they are available."
The department's announcement did not contain details of water quality at the nearby Village Creek and St. Francis River, where thousands of dead fish were found less than 48 hours after the fire. The waterways aren't connected to the area's drinking water supply, but are often used for livestock and agriculture.
"I have not heard a definitive timeline, other than it could still be several days before we receive sampling results from the streams and tissue samples from the fish kill," MoDNR Information Officer Brian Quinn said. "We understand that people are very interested in that information and we will provide it as soon as we receive the data and can understand what they mean in the context of the CMR fire."
Matthew Maribona, a Fredericktown resident, saw the smoke from the fire heading straight toward his parents’ house. Days after the incident, he ventured to nearby waterways and saw the dead fish.
“It's almost sickening in a way because I grew up in these rivers. I grew up fishing and swimming in these streams," he previously told 5 On Your Side. "I am very concerned mostly for the residents and the impact on the wildlife.”
MoDNR officials previously told 5 On Your Side testing results for the waterways most likely won't have results until late during the week of Nov. 11, partially due to recent widespread flooding throughout Missouri complicating sample gathering.