The Jefferson County Chapter of the League of Women Voters and the Jefferson County Health Department present a public forum, “Lessons from Elk River,” 7 p.m. on Friday, Apr. 25, at the Charles Town Library downstairs meeting room.

Dr. Rahul Gupta, executive director of Kanawha-Charleston Health Department, Mary Sell, chair of the Water Advisory Committee and Dr. David Didden, physician director of Jefferson County Health Department will discuss the Elk River spill and its implications for Jefferson County. The panel will focus on the challenge of public water supply exposure to contamination, and how our

communities can build on the strengths of existing infrastructure to prevent widespread disruption of the safe water supply.

Questions and comments from audience members will be accepted after the presentations.

With the Shenandoah and Potomac rivers, karst geology and extensive use of wells supplying water to the county’s residents, monitoring and prevention of contamination are key elements in protecting water safety. This forum will serve as a springboard to develop plans for a response should a similar event occur here.

The League of Women Voters of Jefferson County is a non-partisan organization open to men and women interested in promoting good government through education and advocacy. For information about joining the Jefferson County League, contact anncoulter@comcast.net or visit lwv-jcwv.org/.

For information on the forum, contact David Didden, MD,Health Officer 304-728 8416 or david.didden@wv.gov. The mission of the Jefferson County Health Department, with the support of the Jefferson County Commission, municipalities and other contributing agencies, is to protect the health of the public.