chemical spills

The chemical tanker Carla Maersk sits at anchor off Morgans Point, Texas, after Monday's collision in foggy weather. The Maersk was carrying about 216,000 barrels of the gas additive MTBE. U.S. Coast Guard hide caption

The banks of the Elk River in Charleston, W.Va. Tom Hindman/Getty Images hide caption

Freedom Industries, which has been blamed for a chemical spill that left thousands of people without water, has filed for bankruptcy. The company's facility on Barlow St. is seen here on the banks of the Elk River in Charleston, West Virginia. Tom Hindman/Getty Images hide caption

The Freedom Industries facility sits on the banks of the Elk River last Friday, in Charleston, W.Va., site of a chemical spill that has led to a ban on using tap water in the area. The CDC says pregnant women in affected areas should drink only bottled water. Tom Hindman/Getty Images hide caption

4:45 p.m. ET, Jan. 14: Areas in red still can't use their water. But the blue area is starting to expand. West Virginia American Water hide caption

In West Virginia, a ban on water use has been lifted in at least three areas affected by a chemical spill. Here, Al Jones of the state's General Services department tests the water as he flushes a faucet and opens a restroom on the first floor of the Capitol in Charleston on Monday. Steve Helber/AP hide caption

Members of the Nitro Volunteer Fire Department distribute water to local residents on Saturday. Michael Switzer/AP hide caption

Shelves at Krogers remain empty after running out of water in Kanawha City a neighborhood of Charleston on Friday. Tom Hindman/Getty Images hide caption

In Charleston, W.Va., the shelves of this Kroger supermarket had been nearly stripped of bottled water on Thursday. Residents rushed to buy water after a chemical spill led officials to warn that they not use what's coming out of their taps. Tyler Evert/AP hide caption