CITIZEN STAFF REPORT
WAYNE COUNTY, W.Va. — Gov. Patrick Morrisey has announced $145 million in additional state funding for water and wastewater infrastructure, along with several projects aimed at addressing chronic water problems in Wayne County and other parts of southern West Virginia.
Morrisey announced the statewide funding Aug. 19 in Beckley, then traveled to Wayne County the following day to outline projects targeting water loss, emergency supply needs and service extensions.
The $145 million is expected to leverage federal, local and other funding and bring the total value of water and wastewater projects advanced under the administration to more than $1 billion.
During Morrisey’s first 19 months in office, West Virginia provided more than $174 million in state grants and low-interest loans that helped advance more than $552 million in water and wastewater projects through the end of July, according to the governor’s office.
“We are about taking action to help people,” Morrisey said. “We went into these communities, listened to the problems people are facing, and now we are acting. We’re putting real resources behind fixing West Virginia’s water infrastructure and making sure that money produces results.”
The funding announcement follows Morrisey’s recent Water Listening Tour through Wayne, Mingo, Wyoming and McDowell counties.
In Wayne County, some water systems are losing as much as 70% of treated water before it reaches customers. State officials said the losses amount to as much as 700,000 gallons per day in some areas.
The state has partnered with West Virginia American Water to assist with leak detection and repairs.
Morrisey also said he will work to allocate $4 million for an emergency pipeline connecting the Crum Public Service District to Lavalette. The project would give the area access to three independent water sources through Kermit, Kenova and Mingo Public Service District.
The administration is also directing the West Virginia Water Development Authority to consider a $150,000 investment to help the Town of Fort Gay extend water service to Lavalette PSD. Local utility crews would be used to help speed construction.
“When we launched our southern West Virginia water listening tour, I promised you that my administration would not sit by while decades of neglect washed away our state’s potential,” Morrisey said during the Wayne County announcement. “We went directly into your communities to listen, engage, and act.”
The administration has also deployed disaster recovery funding to reconnect homes to water service following recent severe weather and addressed internet connectivity problems at the Prichard Industrial Park.
Along with the new funding, Morrisey announced what his administration is calling the Clean, Clear Water Strategy, which is intended to move infrastructure projects more quickly and direct additional assistance toward small and financially distressed water systems.
Marshall University, West Virginia University and the state’s 11 Regional Planning and Development Councils will provide grant-writing and technical assistance to small and understaffed utilities.
Projects that have reached a binding commitment will move to 60-day reviews, and the state plans to establish a public dashboard to track applications and projects.
The administration also plans to give greater consideration to communities dealing with failing systems, repeated boil-water advisories, public health concerns and financial problems.
Morrisey said his administration will work with the Legislature to revise utility laws and reduce paperwork that can slow projects. The state also plans to report the number of miles of water line built or repaired, treatment facilities upgraded and homes and businesses receiving new or improved service.
“Marshall, WVU and our 11 Regional Planning and Development Councils are going to bring their expertise to bear for communities that need it most,” Morrisey said. “They will help small water systems compete for funding, navigate complicated requirements, and get projects moving.”
Delegate Ryan Browning, Wayne County Commissioners Enoch “Jay” Marcum III and Ryan Turner and Wayne Mayor Ramey joined Morrisey for the Aug. 20 announcement in Wayne County.
“We didn’t come to southern West Virginia just to make promises, we came to deliver results,” Morrisey said.