New Pipeline Funds May End Months Without Water For Crum Residents

In the wake of his four county “water listening tour” earlier this month, Gov. Patrick Morrisey announced a new round of funding aimed at water woes.  

The biggest project announced Thursday involves the community of Crum in southern Wayne County, where Morrisey said he learned that residents and businesses sometimes lose water for up to two months, particularly during the winter months.  

“There were outages that occurred where sometimes they were without water for a long stretch of time in the winter, and maybe the Guyandotte (River) had froze, maybe there’s some other problems, but there were real challenges down in Crum,” Morrisey said. “And we know when that happens, families shut down, businesses shut down, the situation is intolerable.” 

Morrisey said his office is committing $4 million for an emergency pipeline to connect Crum to water sources in Kenova and Lavalette in Wayne County and Kermit in Mingo County.  

“That means come hell or high water or frozen water, the water is going to keep flowing into your homes. That’s what’s needed. You can’t have people lose water for 30 days, 60 days,” he added. 

A press release from his office said Morrisey’s administration is also directing the Water Development Authority to approve a targeted $150,000 investment to assist the Town of Fort Gay with a water extension project to the Lavalette Public Service District that will provide reliable, clean water to the town.