Tag: Water Systems

W.Va. Water Systems To Receive $9.3 Million For Upgrades

Water and wastewater services in five West Virginia counties will soon receive upgrades through a new round of federal funding from the U.S. Department of Agriculture.

Water and wastewater services in five West Virginia counties will soon receive upgrades through a new round of federal funding.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) announced Friday that it would provide $9,253,000 to water projects in Hardy, Mason, Monroe, Ohio and Wood counties.

The new funding follows an allocation of $3,229,000 to water infrastructure projects in Marion and Jackson counties last month from the Environmental Protection Agency.

The USDA funds will contribute to a variety of county-level projects, including sewer system, waterline and wastewater treatment plant improvements.

Federal agencies have invested millions of dollars in West Virginia water systems in recent years. These funds have aimed to address water system issues tied to aging infrastructure and funding decline.

The USDA funding was partially made possible through a 2021 bipartisan infrastructure law, which has allocated resources toward regional infrastructure projects across the nation.

In a press release Thursday, Sen. Joe Manchin, D-W.Va., voiced his support for the new funding, as well as the federal government’s renewed support for infrastructure in West Virginia.

“Investing in our communities means long-term economic development that creates and supports good-paying jobs,” he said.

The following West Virginia water projects will receive support through the new round of funding:

  • Red Sulphur Public Service District: $4,800,000 to extend a waterline to more than 80 new customers.
  • Town of Triadelphia: $1,600,000 to upgrade the sewer system.
  • Town of Wardensville: $1,100,000 to upgrade wastewater treatment and lift stations.
  • Claywood Park Public Service District: $940,000 to upgrade waterlines.
  • Mason County Public Service District: $814,000 to upgrade the sewer system.

State Officials Work To Ward Off Water System Cyberattacks

West Virginia officials are teaming up to bolster cybersecurity for local water and wastewater services.

In December, national security authorities identified an increase in cyberattacks targeting local water systems across the country, prompting calls to strengthen their cyber protections.

In response, officials with the Office of Environmental Health Services (OEHS) — part of the West Virginia Department of Health Bureau of Public Health — are now coordinating cyberattack prevention initiatives with local water systems across the state.

Cyberattacks can disrupt water services, steal consumer data and install dangerous software remotely. In a Tuesday press release, State Health Officer Matthew Christiansen said that the state’s renewed cybersecurity efforts can hamper threats to local water services.

“Water systems can reduce their risk by updating computer equipment regularly, using secure passwords and resetting them regularly, requiring employee training to safeguard against an attack and ensuring clean drinking water is provided to residents,” he said.

OEHS will also work with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency to spread awareness about the federal agency’s free cybersecurity assessments.

Through these efforts, officials said that they hope to bolster cybersecurity for local water systems across West Virginia.

Feds, Local Health Agencies Looking At High Lead Levels In Clarksburg Drinking Water

Federal regulators have joined West Virginia officials in reviewing water service lines in Clarksburg for elevated levels of lead in drinking water.

Sampling in several homes in the area showed lead levels above a health safety limit set by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.

“The situation in Clarksburg is concerning, and as a precaution we encourage all families living in homes built before 1950 to use bottled water for consumption and have children younger than six years of age evaluated for lead,” said Dr. Ayne Amjad, state health officer and commissioner of DHHR’s Bureau for Public Health. “Working together with our federal partner, the Environmental Protection Agency, we will assure safe drinking water for the residents of Clarksburg. Additionally, the state is committing funding toward lab analysis of water samples for lead content.”

The issue of lead service lines was first identified by staff in the Bureau for Public Health’s Childhood Lead Poisoning Prevention Program during environmental lead assessments conducted in the homes of children diagnosed with elevated blood lead levels. Water samples in several homes serviced by the Clarksburg Water System were above the EPA’s action level (15 parts per billion).

The Clarksburg Water System will implement a corrective action plan that will include additional sampling, increased frequency of monitoring, installation of a corrosion control system and an alternate source of drinking water and/or point of use filters for homeowners where elevated lead levels are known from existing sample results and where known or suspected lead service lines exist.

“EPA is committed to address lead in the nation’s drinking water to ensure communities like Clarksburg are protected,” said acting EPA Mid-Atlantic Regional Administrator Diana Esher. “Addressing lead in drinking water requires partnerships, and EPA is dedicated to working with West Virginia to improve public health.”

Parents of children younger than six years of age who are living in older homes serviced by the Clarksburg Water System should discuss the risks of lead exposure with their child’s pediatrician to determine if precautionary blood lead testing is needed. Additional steps all consumers can take include flushing water lines used for drinking and cooking and using bottled water for making baby formula. Experts caution that boiling water does not remove lead from water.

Questions regarding the Clarksburg Water System and the risk for lead exposure in the water should be directed to Bob Davis, Clarksburg Water System Chief Water Operator, at 304-624-5467, extension 121.

Helpful EPA resources:

Basic Information About Lead in Drinking Water

Important Steps You Can Take to Reduce Lead in Drinking Water

Lead Poisoning and Your Children

Protect Your Family from Lead in Your Home (translations available)

Protecting Children’s Health

DHHR & DEP Investigating Foam on Coal River, Lincoln Co. and St. Albans Water Intakes Closed

  The West Virginia Department of Health and Human Resources Bureau for Public Health, along with the West Virginia Department of Environmental Protection, is investigating foam observed on the surface of the Coal River. 

According to a news release from DHHR Friday evening,  intakes at both Lincoln County Public Service District and City of St. Albans water systems have been closed. 

The DHHR says foam samples have been collected by Lincoln PSD and the Department of Environmental Protection. Testing of the samples is ongoing and initial results are expected this evening.

“After the foam was identified, the Lincoln County PSD and City of St. Albans water system water intakes were closed as a precaution and they began the sampling process shortly thereafter,” Dr. Rahul Gupta, commissioner of the DHHR Bureau for Public Health and State Health Officer said in a news release.

At this time, some of the approximately 4,900 residents served by the Lincoln PSD may lose water service until the intakes are re-opened and pumping and treatment resume, according to the DHHR.  They say water tankers are on the way to the affected area to provide potable water, if necessary.

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