Despite clear tests, Giant Eagle pulls bottled water from plant near East Palestine
Acting out of "an abundance of caution," grocer Giant Eagle announced Tuesday it would stop selling gallon-size or larger bottles of water manufactured at a plant about 25 miles southwest of East Palestine.
The facility in question, which has a plant in Salineville, sources its water from a spring near East Palestine, the site of a toxic Feb. 3 trail derailment.
Testing has not revealed any issues with the water in question, Giant Eagle said.
Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine visited homes in East Palestine Tuesday and drank tap water from each to reassure village residents their municipal water supply is safe.
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"The only Giant Eagle brand products sourced from the Salineville facility and sold in our Giant Eagle, Market District and GetGo stores are varieties of spring water packaged in gallon-size-or-greater containers," Giant Eagle spokesman Dan Donovan stated in a media release.
"Giant Eagle has been in daily contact with representatives from the facility and has learned that the water used in these products comes from a protected spring located at a higher elevation than East Palestine and is not near ground water sources directly impacted by the incident."
Donovan said the Salineville facility uses a third-party lab to screen its water sources, and has not found any evidence the water source was impacted by the derailment. But Giant Eagle decided to pull the water bottles to be on the safe side "while we continue to evaluate ongoing testing and potential impacts to the spring source," Donovan said.
Donovan said bottled water from the Salineville facility with a best-by date after Feb. 3, 2025 came from the facility after the derailment. Those who want a refund should either bring the bottles or a receipt to their local Giant Eagle, Market District or GetGo location.
The name of the bottling facility was not given, but Creekside Springs has a facility in Salineville, as well as Ambridge, Pennsylvania.
Representatives from Creekside Springs could not be reached for comment.
A Norfolk Southern freight train carrying hazardous materials derailed in East Palestine on Feb. 3, spilling chemicals into the environment and spurring health concerns. Five of the cars contained vinyl chloride, which was discharged through a controlled release to prevent an explosion.
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Giant Eagle has more than 410 stores in five states, including Ohio, northern West Virginia, Maryland, Pennsylvania and Indiana.
Columbus Dispatch reporters Monroe Trombly and Haley BeMiller contributed to this article. Reporter April Helms can be reached at ahelms@thebeaconjournal.com
This article originally appeared on Akron Beacon Journal: Giant Eagle pulls water bottled near East Palestine derailment
