Some teams trucked in water so residents could fill bottles and jugs, while other teams distributed bottled water or delivered water to rural residents and those who could not get to distribution stations. The four hospitals remained open, but schools as well as hotels, restaurants and many other businesses were closed.

Charles Southern, president of Freedom Industries, issued a brief statement late on Jan. 10, saying the company was "following all necessary steps to fix the issue." However, he did not return calls for further comment.

The plant, formerly a Pennzoil terminal built in the 1940s or 1950s, changed ownership late last year and needed improvements, said Kent Carper, president of the Kanawha County Commission.

"You don't have to be an engineer" to see that the containment dike around the 40,000-gallon storage tanks "needed substantial improvement," he said.

The state Legislature, now in session, also felt the impact of the water ban and could develop legislation governing incidents such as this, Carper said.

"Something tells me they are going to take some action," Carper said. "And something tells me the industry will fight it."