BECKLEY — West Virginia is committing another $145 million toward water and wastewater infrastructure as state officials seek to address aging utility systems and accelerate projects across the state.
Gov. Patrick Morrisey announced the funding Wednesday in Beckley as part of the administration’s Clean, Clear Water Strategy. The latest investment is expected to help push the overall value of water and wastewater projects advanced during Morrisey’s administration past $1 billion.
The state has provided more than $174 million in grants and low-interest loans for water and wastewater projects during the administration’s first 19 months. Those investments have helped move more than $552 million in projects forward through the end of July.
The newly announced funding is expected to be combined with federal, local and other sources of money, increasing the total value of projects supported by the state to more than $1 billion.
The Clean, Clear Water Strategy includes partnerships with Marshall University, West Virginia University and the state’s 11 Regional Planning and Development Councils. The institutions will provide grant-writing assistance and technical support to smaller water systems that may not have sufficient staff to pursue funding on their own.
The administration also plans to speed up the review process for projects under binding commitment, with a goal of completing reviews within 60 days. A public dashboard will provide information about applications and project progress.
Funding priorities will include communities facing failing water systems, boil-water orders, public health concerns and financial challenges.
The administration also intends to work with lawmakers to update utility laws, including changes designed to make it easier for struggling water systems to share resources and work together.
State officials plan to measure the program’s progress through publicly reported figures, including the number of miles of water lines constructed or repaired, treatment facilities upgraded and homes and businesses receiving improved or new service.
The announcement came after Morrisey completed a Water Listening Tour that included stops in Wayne, Mingo, Wyoming and McDowell counties.
In Wayne County, some water systems lose as much as 70% of treated water before it reaches customers, according to the governor’s office. The state has enlisted American Water to help identify leaks and is providing funding for repairs.
The governor’s office said another water-related announcement is planned for Thursday.
