Toxic East Tennessee train derailment may have affected water

Smoke rises into sky Thursday, July 2, 2015, from train derailment in Maryville, Tenn. Officials say an evacuation is expected to last at least until Friday, after a CSX train car carrying a flammable and toxic substance derailed and caught fire. They also asked nearby residents not to drink well water for now. About 5,000 people in the area were evacuated along with several businesses. (Mark A Large/The Daily Times via AP) Smoke rises into sky Thursday, July 2, 2015, from train derailment in Maryville, Tenn. Officials say an evacuation is expected to last at least until Friday, after a CSX train car carrying a flammable and toxic substance derailed and caught fire. They also asked nearby residents not to drink well water for now. About 5,000 people in the area were evacuated along with several businesses. (Mark A Large/The Daily Times via AP)

By Associated Press July 6, 2015 4 min read

Smoke rises from a CSX train following the derailment of a train car, Thursday, July 2, 2015, in Maryville, Tenn. The derailment of the car, carrying a flammable and toxic substance, caused the evacuation of thousands in the surrounding area. (Michael Patrick/Knoxville News Sentinel via AP)

Officials on Sunday issued an advisory against activity in Culton Creek after biologists found dead fish in the wake of Thursday’s CSX train derailment.

The advisory came down from the Environmental Protection Agency, the Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation, and officials from Blount County, Alcoa and Maryville governments.

According to reports, biologists working to install a water treatment system found dead fish in Culton Creek around 4:30 p.m. Sunday. They judged that the fish may have died around the time of Thursday’s derailment involving a CSX tank car carrying toxic chemicals.

As a precaution, people are advised to refrain from activity in Culton Creek from Old Mount Tabor Road to North Hall Road.

Officials also said that, according to samples taken in the wake of the accident, water from Pistol Creek and Little River is safe for normal activity.