Water Utilities Story Archives - West Virginia Public Broadcasting

Hearings Set To Determine If Paden City Utility Are Distressed Or Failing

The Public Service Commission (PSC) of West Virginia will hold public comment and evidentiary hearings Jan. 11, 2024, to determine whether the City of Paden City and Paden City Municipal Water Works is a distressed or failing utility.

The evidentiary hearing begins at 10 a.m. at the Paden City Municipal Building, 208 W. Main, Paden City. A public comment hearing will be held that same day at the same location beginning at 5:30 p.m.

The PSC opened proceedings on Nov. 3 into complaints about Paden City’s water and sewer systems. The preliminary investigation revealed that for years residents have dealt with contaminated water from a chemical called Tetrachloroethylene or PCE that is commonly used in dry cleaning. The United States Environmental Protection Agency added the Paden City Groundwater site to the Superfund National Priorities List, a list of hazardous waste sites eligible for remedial cleanup funding, in 2021. The EPA considers PCE as likely to be carcinogenic to humans.

According to PSC documents, two of the utility’s three air strippers – used to remove PCE from water – failed in 2018 and 2019. Although one of the strippers was repaired, levels as high as 21 parts per billion (ppb) of PCE have been recorded, above the federal maximum of 5 ppb.

The PSC filings detail a more recent incident in 2023, when a bypass valve for the air stripper failed, allowing a large percentage of water to bypass the air stripper unit and enter the finished water system.

The city filed a response on Nov. 20 that it is not a distressed utility and is not in “continual violation” of statutory or regulatory standards. It also said it took proper steps to remove PCE from its distribution system. This includes applying for emergency funding through USDA Rural Development as well as an application with the Emergency and Imminent Community Water Assistance Grants Program after excessive PCE levels were detected in 2018.

Both systems serve customers in Wetzel and Tyler counties. The City of Paden City is a municipal utility that provides service to 1,262 sewer customers; and Paden City Municipal Water Works provides water service to 1,204 customers.

Jefferson County Citizens Discuss Water Utility Buyout, Solar Farm At Public Hearings

Jefferson County citizens voiced their opinions at a Public Service Commission hearing Monday on a potential buyout that would see West Virginia American Water purchase four local water and sewer utilities.

Updated on Wednesday, Feb. 8, 2023 at 10:19 a.m.; Thursday, Feb. 9 2023 at 4:00 p.m.

These include Jefferson Utilities, Inc., Valley Water and Sewer Services, East Jefferson Sewer Services and Shenandoah Junction Public Sewer, Inc.

PSC staff estimated the buyout would increase local rates by as much as 47 percent for water and 56 percent for sewer.

The overwhelming opinion of the locals present at the hearing, including Shepherdstown resident Michael Keefe, was that such an increase would be unfair to customers.

“We’re concerned that if the rate increases go up so much, that many residents in the lower income would not be able to pay for it, or we’ll have to cut back so much on water usage that it’s detrimental to their family plan and sanitation,” Keefe said.

Previously, PSC staff recommended that West Virginia American Water establish a five-year schedule to slowly bring customers’ rates in line with the company’s existing rates.

“I think even doing these rates over time, as what was suggested, I don’t believe in that, because then it just couches for more,” fellow local and ratepayer advocate Jacquelyn Milliron said. “It hides the fact that more rate increases just get put on top.”

Those in favor of the buyout argued that as a larger company, West Virginia American Water has more resources and infrastructure to help better serve the area.

“We understand that customers are facing a lot of different situations and circumstances in their own lives,” said Megan Hannah, Senior Manager of Government and External Affairs for the company. “We do want to make sure customers know that there are many, many customer assistance programs that we offer to help those that are struggling, those that are in need. And that is not a program that’s offered currently by JUI or any other utility here in the Eastern Panhandle.”

From Water To Watts

Also discussed in a separate PSC hearing earlier in the day was the creation of a 99 megawatt solar energy farm owned by Rippon Energy on an estimated 740 to 860 acres of land in the county. Rippon cited a $125 million investment in the project that would go towards creating an in-state workforce, and that ratepayers would not be affected as a result.

Residents in favor cited solar as a renewable energy source, with some local farmers who had volunteered their land to be used saying they should have a voice in what they use their land for. Residents opposed were concerned about the efficiency of solar energy, the loss of farmland and potential waste from the facility going into the nearby Potomac and Shenandoah rivers.

The Public Service Commission held an evidentiary hearing for the West Virginia American Water case Jan. 25 and plans to hold a similar hearing for the solar farm facility Feb. 23. As of the Monday hearing, no statutory deadline for either case’s final decision has been scheduled.

Editor’s Note: This story was updated to clarify the statuses and dates of both cases’ evidentiary hearings and the projected amount of acres the solar farm will be built upon.

W.Va. Residents Can Apply For Help Paying Water, Sewer Bills

Department of Health and Human Resources officials announced Monday that applications for the federally funded Low-Income Household Water Assistance Program are open. The program will accept applications “until funds are exhausted,” according to a news release.

Applications are open for West Virginia residents to apply for help paying water or wastewater bills.

To qualify, an applicant’s annual income must be at or below 60 percent of the state median income. For example, a household of two’s monthly income may not exceed $2,621. For a household of four, monthly income may not exceed $3,855.

Those interested in applying can call (304) 352-4431 or contact their local Department of Health and Human Resources office with questions or to request an interview.