Reports show pre-flood sewage issues in Cannelton; ‘Band-Aid’ fix being considered

The Kanawha Falls PSD provides sewer service to Cannelton Hollow homes, and both sewer and water service to other area communities.

Bills trending upward

On Monday, the system leaked sewage near Cannelton Hollow homes. The scent lingered outside 70-year-old Richard Schoolcraft’s house. He said the manhole near his home has leaked since October.

According to Delegate David Pritt, R-Fayette, who represents the area, at least 300 residents are affected by these sewer issues. They say their sewer bill keeps going up even though they don’t receive sewer services.

“They’re getting money for nothing right now,� Schoolcraft said. “Our bill used to be $30. After the [2022] flood, it went up for $40. Later on, it went up to $50. It’s about $53 now.�

While current residents say these conditions are now the norm, reports from the DEP show complaints and contamination issues in Cannelton Hollow well before the flood.

DEP reports show long-term issues

DEP records show a long history of problems at Kanawha Falls PSD.

In January 2006, the DEP noted “major upgrades,� including a new dechlorination system and refurbished treatment units. However, the report also cited serious safety concerns, including 10 spills or bypasses in 2005 caused by “mechanical malfunctions and/or collection systems failure.�

One persistent issue has been inflow and infiltration (I&I), where stormwater and groundwater enter the wastewater system, overwhelming it and causing overflows, basement backups and operational failures.

In a 2006 report, environmental inspector Larry Robertson wrote, “While inspecting the I&I monthly reports, I noted very little, and at times, no I&I reduction efforts being reported … I have therefore concluded that the [Kanawha Falls PSD} I&I reduction efforts are lacking and not being carried out as intended by DEP.�

Public complaints also surfaced. A September 2016 DEP report cites Cannelton resident Tommy Whittington, who the report noted had repeatedly called for several years to report a sewage-related smell. Investigators confirmed sludge deposits downstream and an ongoing spill from the Smithers lift station — a pump station that moves wastewater from a lower to a higher elevation — that was discoloring Smithers Creek.

A 2017 order issued to Kanawha Falls PSD by the DEP found:

• Discharging sewage from the Smithers lift station without authorization
• Failing to notify the DEP about sewage spills
• Creating visible settleable solids and sludge banks in Smithers Creek

Violations continued, according to DEP records. From late August 2018 to the end of June 2020, fecal matter levels exceeded legal limits at multiple points. Between August 2018 and August 2020, the PSD reported 42 minor, 43 moderate, and 40 major exceedances from two outlets. In some cases, fecal coliform levels surpassed the allowed amount by 6,400%.

In December 2019, PSD chief operator Joey Goodnite (who is now the PSD’s general manager), filed a DEP complaint about wastewater escaping from a manhole in Cannelton Hollow due to a pipe obstruction.

The corresponding DEP report said, “Raw wastewater along with the solid waste that was in the wastewater was spilling out of a manhole and flowing into Smithers Creek. Kanawha Falls PSD along with Montgomery PSD were actively trying to unclog the wastewater pipe that caused the spill when I arrived on scene.�

Goodnite and PSD chairman Jonathan Grose noted that renovations in recent years have improved regional water treatment.

“We have done upgrades on the sewer system,� Grose said. “We’ve got our costs down. All of those things have been corrected.�

Mount Olive’s role

Water flowing from the hill at the head of Cannelton Hollow where the Mount Olive Correctional Complex sits has darkened creekbeds, nearly black in some spots. Large foam deposits have also appeared in various parts of the creek.

Schoolcraft said he believes these discolorations are caused by sewage from both the prison and residences. Local instances are clear: Pipes directing the homes’ wastewater straight into the creek.

According to Goodnite and Grose, Mount Olive contributed to sewage processing problems before the 2022 flood. Goodnite said a gravity-fed system moves raw wastewater to a Kanawha Falls PSD regional treatment plant.

While Cannelton resident Paul Duncan said he believes there is treatment in place, his wife Nancy said, “We’re getting the sewage from the top, the prison, all the way down.�

They aren’t wrong.

Goodnite reported that, prior to 2020, the prison’s sewage system frequently sent excessive debris — including bed sheets, food wrappers, and clothing — into the PSD’s system, causing blockages that led to line blowouts and manhole overflows. Grose also claimed the prison was routinely late or negligent in providing required sewage reports, delaying the PSD’s own filings with the DEP.

A 2017 DEP consent order — a legally binding agreement that outlines terms for corrective actions and penalties — referenced these issues, stating Kanawha Falls PSD failed to ensure its “industrial user� complied with permit terms. DEP Chief Communications Officer Terry Fletcher said all issues listed in the 2017 Consent Order have since been addressed.

According to Fletcher, Mount Olive now employs mechanical treatment processes, including a bar screen and macerator, to filter out and break down large solid waste. Since the 2022 flood, a temporary treatment system provides basic disinfection before wastewater is discharged. However, a lack of pipes leads the waste down the creek.

“Because of this, Kanawha Falls PSD cannot receive sewage or waste from Mount Olive. The odors experienced by Cannelton Hollow residents are likely due to raw sewage from other residents and partially treated sewage from Mount Olive,� Fletcher explained.

Mount Olive officials did not return requests for comment.

‘Band-Aid’ fixes

Jama Tolley worries about her three-year-old son’s health. As a Cannelton resident, she is unsure about how constant sewage exposure could affect him, especially after suffering from her own flood-related medical woes.

She ended up in the emergency room with an infection she thinks occurred because she cut her foot when cleaning a storm drain, exposing her foot to the sewage-infected water. Doctors said the illness could have come from contaminated water, she said.

“There’s so many diseases that can be passed through sewage, especially from the prison. I was terrified I was going to end up with some sort of uncureable disease,� she said.

While she recovered, the smell remained, also afflicting her with nausea and headaches, she said.

She may soon see some relief.

Fayette County Commissioner Allison Taylor said a temporary solution is being considered by the commission, funded in part by using over $200,000 in funding from the commission and New River Gorge Regional Development Authority.

According to documents obtained by the Gazette-Mail, two options are under review:

• Renting five pumps at $20,145 each for two years, potentially costing $588,000 with fuel
• Buying five pumps for $395,656. Though cheaper, maintenance would fall on the county; however, the pumps could be sold later to recoup costs.

The pumps would bypass broken pipes but would need to be laid above ground, making them vulnerable to damage.

Taylor said PSDs often deploy short-term “band-aid� solutions while they wait for state of federal funding.

Will there be a permanent solution?

A permanent fix is in the works, with an expected completion date in 2027.

West Virginia American Water has offered to take over the Kanawha Falls PSD, along with Page-Kincaid and Armstrong Creek PSDs in Kincaid and Kimberly, Fayette County, respectively. WVAW would assume their debts and infrastructure projects, including Cannelton Hollow. Public meetings have been held on the potential sale, but no decision has been made.

Taylor has mixed feelings about consolidation, she said. While WVAW can extend services to small communities, she is concerned about losing local oversight.

Grose noted that Kanawha Falls PSD’s permanent repair project is already designed and awaiting Federal Emergency Management Agency funds. He argued that WVAW’s takeover wouldn’t expedite repairs.

“West Virginia American Water says that they can fix it tomorrow. They can’t fix it tomorrow. They have no design. They have nothing ready to break ground. They have nothing ready to take to bid,� Grose said.

Lesley Taylor, project administrator for FEMA’s Region 4 Planning and Development Council, previously stated that FEMA funding for the project would be off the table if WVAW took over. However, WVAW Director of Development Brooks Crislip countered that the company has received federal funds for emergency work in the past.

“In the past, we have been reimbursed from FEMA for emergency work we have done,� he said.

Crislip added that WVAW’s larger customer base could help spread out project costs.

“So we could do a [large] project where we’re fixing Cannelton Hollow in year one, and that cost is spread out amongst 170,000 customers, as opposed to 2,000 right there,� Crislip explained.

Kanawha Falls PSD officials say FEMA funding can take a long time to obtain due to back-and-forth planning and other requirements. Allison Taylor described FEMA as “dysfunctional.�

Residents say they just want the problem fixed.

“I don’t care who the hell does it,� Tolley said. “At this point ... if it’s a rate increase is from a different company that’s going to ... actually fix our issue up there, so be it.�