CHARLESTON, W.Va. — West Virginia American Water Company is encouraging customers to provide comments for each of its eight Source Water Protection draft plans.
Under law, West Virginia public water systems are required to develop a plan, with public input, to educate and offer site-specific technical assistance to residents following the 2014 Freedom Industries chemical spill on the Elk River in Charleston.
“The Source Water Protection Plan is put in place to help try to identify potential risks that could affect the drinking water supply and then seek to reduce those risks when possible to maintain the quality of that source of supply,” explained Laura Jordan, external affairs manager for WVAWC.
The company has draft plans for its eight water systems in Bluefield, Pipestream, Huntington, Weston, Webster Springs, South Charleston, Gassaway and Fayetteville.
“The things that these types of plans are looking at are potential contaminates that are upstream and then identifying ways to help engage the public on how the community as a whole can better mitigate those risks,” Jordan said.
Citizens can provide feedback online, through mail or during a series of meetings being held across the state this month.
Jordan said customers have been more aware of their water since the emergency that contaminated drinking water for more than 300,000 residents in parts of nine counties.
“We definitely believe that we’ll see a greater interest in this type of review process and these types of public meetings then perhaps we would have several years ago,” she said.
There will be 14 meetings at each local water system beginning next week. Locations, dates and times are as follows:
Bluefield & Bluestone Water Systems
Wednesday, March 16 at 1 p.m.
Bluefield City Hall Board Room
200 Rogers Street, Bluefield, WV 24701
Bluefield & Bluestone Water Systems
Wednesday, March 16 at 6 p.m.
Pipestem State Park – McKeever Lodge Cardinal Room
3405 Pipestem Drive, Pipestem, WV 25979
Huntington Water System
Thursday, March 17 at 1 p.m. and 6 p.m.
Marshall University Brad D. Smith Foundation Hall
519 John Marshall Drive, Huntington, WV 25703
Weston Water System
Friday, March 18 at 1 p.m. and 6 p.m.
Lewis County Senior Center
171 West 2nd Street, Weston, WV 26452
Webster Springs Water System
Tuesday, March 22 at 1 p.m. and 6 p.m.
Town of Addison City Hall Social Room
146 McGraw Avenue, Webster Springs, WV 26288
Kanawha Valley Water System
Wednesday, March 23 at 1 p.m. and 6 p.m.
Bridge Valley Community & Technical College – Advanced Technology Center
1201 Science Park Drive, South Charleston, WV 25303
Gassaway Water System
Tuesday, March 29 at 1 p.m. and 6 p.m.
Gassaway Town Hall
416 Elk Street, Gassaway, WV 26624
New River Water System
Wednesday, March 30 at 1 p.m. and 6 p.m.
Fayetteville City Hall
125 North Court Street, Fayetteville, WV 25840
Customers will also receive a schedule of the meetings in the mail.
To view the draft plans, click here.
Comments may be submitted at WVAWC’s website or by mail to West Virginia American Water, Attn: Source Water Protection Manager, PO Box 1906, Charleston, WV 25327-1906.
WVAWC, and all public water utilities, are then required to submit their plans to the state Bureau for Public Health by July 1.