Families near Allen Steam Station mark 1,000 days living off bottled water

This browser does not support the video element.

BELMONT, N.C. — As of Thursday, dozens of Belmont families near Duke Energy's Allen Steam Station have been living off bottled water for 1,000 days because of toxic metals found in their well water.

[Belmont residents still frustrated with drinking water situation]

Those families will gather outside Duke Energy's headquarters Thursday to share their stories of what it's been like to use bottled water to drink, cook and brush their teeth for nearly three years.

[Duke Energy wants money back for bottled water supplied to residents]

Their attorneys are in talks with Duke Energy about a solution for a permanent water supply.

Duke Energy maintains that there is no evidence the toxic metals are from coal ash basins. The company points to research showing the metals occur naturally in soil and water.

Read more top trending stories on wsoctv.com: