Uploaded August 2026 | Updated September 2026, 3 weeks ago
Many West Virginians have gotten used to turning on their taps and seeing discolored water.
It's been an issue present for generations, an issue that has not seen any resolution. Even after countless bills have been introduced and pushed to the finish line, reliable water is not something everyone in the Mountain State has access to.
Earlier this month, Gov. Patrick Morrisey took two days for a listening tour to hear concerns from Southern West Virginia surrounding water utilities. He made stops in Wayne, McDowell, Mingo and Wyoming counties.
On Wednesday, he announced $145 million in state funding will be going towards water and wastewater infrastructure over the coming year, which puts the state on track to surpass $1 billion in total projects.
"This is very significant as an investment for the state of West Virginia, and we're going to keep doing more," Morrisey said in a press conference Wednesday. "We're not done yet, but I told you, we're going to go down and we're going to listen, we're going to come back and we're going to take action. We take action, we always will."
He highlighted a partnership with Marshall and WVU, along with the state's 11 regional planning and development councils, to provide grant writing and assistance to small and understaffed water systems.
The four parts of this strategy include, faster project oversight, funding based on need, modernized utility laws and public accountability.
"We're going to work with the legislature to modernize our water systems and to modernize utility laws," Morrisey said. "I think that's critical."
Notably, during this year's legislative session, two bills were on the table aimed at fixing these issues, the West Virginia Clean Water Act and the Southern West Virginia Clean Water Fund. Both were left behind, one in committee and the other on second reading on the house floor.
"We're not going to sweep anything under the rug," Morrisey said. "We have to clean things up. We have to make the kind of tough decisions that are going to help generations of West Virginians."
FULL STORY: wchstv.com/news/local/145-million-set-for-west-virginia-water-and-wastewater-upgrades-topping-1b-in-projects
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For the latest local and national news, visit our website: wchstv.com
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Many West Virginians have gotten used to turning on their taps and seeing discolored water.
It's been an issue present for generations, an issue that has not seen any resolution. Even after countless bills have been introduced and pushed to the finish line, reliable water is not something everyone in the Mountain State has access to.
Earlier this month, Gov. Patrick Morrisey took two days for a listening tour to hear concerns from Southern West Virginia surrounding water utilities. He made stops in Wayne, McDowell, Mingo and Wyoming counties.
On Wednesday, he announced $145 million in state funding will be going towards water and wastewater infrastructure over the coming year, which puts the state on track to surpass $1 billion in total projects.
"This is very significant as an investment for the state of West Virginia, and we're going to keep doing more," Morrisey said in a press conference Wednesday. "We're not done yet, but I told you, we're going to go down and we're going to listen, we're going to come back and we're going to take action. We take action, we always will."
He highlighted a partnership with Marshall and WVU, along with the state's 11 regional planning and development councils, to provide grant writing and assistance to small and understaffed water systems.
The four parts of this strategy include, faster project oversight, funding based on need, modernized utility laws and public accountability.
"We're going to work with the legislature to modernize our water systems and to modernize utility laws," Morrisey said. "I think that's critical."
Notably, during this year's legislative session, two bills were on the table aimed at fixing these issues, the West Virginia Clean Water Act and the Southern West Virginia Clean Water Fund. Both were left behind, one in committee and the other on second reading on the house floor.
"We're not going to sweep anything under the rug," Morrisey said. "We have to clean things up. We have to make the kind of tough decisions that are going to help generations of West Virginians."
FULL STORY: wchstv.com/news/local/145-million-set-for-west-virginia-water-and-wastewater-upgrades-topping-1b-in-projects
_________________________________________
Follow WCHS on social media:
Facebook: facebook.com/eyewitnessnewscharleston
Twitter: twitter.com/wchs8fox11
Instagram: instagram.com/wchs8fox11
For the latest local and national news, visit our website: wchstv.com
Sign up for our newsletter: wchstv.com/sign-up
