CHARLESTON, W.Va – The Kanawha County Commission is taking a few issues into focus in 2026, and among them is continued work to extend water service to areas of the county that do not actively have running water.
Planning is underway to bring clean water to residents who currently have to take significant steps to get it themselves.
“Whether it was a well that they were getting from their own property, maybe it was a tank, a bladder that they would have to fill up from West Virginia American Water; now remember, they’re paying West Virginia American Water prices, but they have to go and fill up a bladder just so they can have water at their house,” Commissioner Lance Wheeler said.
Wheeler has pushed for clean water projects on behalf of the commission for the last several years. The commission has seen firsthand the emotional response that has come from this work.
“During the county commission meeting when we were talking about giving them money, one of the residents came and was crying because she has been wanting water for so long,” Wheeler said.
Work toward clean water is being undertaken currently in Leatherwood, Upper Rambling Hills, Alcott, Dutch Ridge, Laurel Fork, and Brown’s Creek. The infrastructure investment into making those projects happen is significant.
“These are six active projects that we’re working on, and just these six, not the ones that we’ve already completed, but just these six, total 40 miles of pipe that we would have to put in,” Wheeler said.
With most of 2026 still ahead, Wheeler says the commission is going to continue pursuing avenues to bring clean water to unserved areas. He believes they’ve proven they can do it, and that means they can do it again.
“This is making sure that we, here in Kanawha County, have clean, potable water and getting as many people that clean, potable water as quickly as possible. That’s what this Kanawha County Commission has done, this is what we’re doing, and this is what we’re going to continue to do,” he said.
The Kanawha County Commission selected Commissioner Ben Salango to serve as commission president for a second consecutive year in 2026.