Thousands of customers — including the Mount Olive Correctional Complex — were without enough drinking water last week after problems surfaced with the water service provided by the Kanawha Falls PSD.
Since then, adequate water service to the prison's 950 inmates has been restored, but other water issues persist with boil-water advisories still in effect in surrounding communities. And now the Public Service Commission is insisting that West Virginia American Water Co. immediately take over the failing PSD.
After a water line break last Tuesday, the Mount Olive Correctional Complex dealt with a water supply shortage for four days. The issue was repaired over the weekend, but other areas in northwest Fayette County are still without water. The West Virginia Public Service Commission in response is pushing the Kanawha Falls and Gauley River public service districts to relinquish operation and maintenance duties to West Virginia American.
A major water leak was discovered in an old, abandoned booster station — a facility that increases water pressure within a pipeline or distribution network, often to reach higher elevations like the Mount Olive location, which is at the head of Cannelton Hollow.
"Some of these lines that are in the ground have been there for years and they need to be replaced," said Fayette County Commissioner John Brenemen. "They just don't have the funds to do that."
The leak was difficult for Kanawha Falls PSD to locate, according to Joseph Goodnite, general manager for the Kanawha Falls PSD. He said it led to a drop in line pressure and affected water supply to surrounding communities.Ìý
West Virginia American, the PSDs and the Public Service Commission worked together to identify and repair the issue, restoring service by early Sunday morning.
A distressed utility, which continuously fails to meet regulatory and environmental standards and/or exhibits ongoing poor general performance
A failing water or wastewater utility, which meets the conditions of a distressed utility and has not improved its operating conditions and services even with outside assistance
Since the bill became law, at least 16 public utilities have been declared distressed and failing.Ìý
In October 2024, the PSC ordered that both the Gauley River and Kanawha Falls PSDs enter into an operation and maintenance agreement with West Virginia American, under the terms of the Distressed and Failing Utilities Improvement Act.
Gauley River appealed the decision, which was later upheld by the Supreme Court, but the Kanawha Falls PSD refused the order.
After the Mount Olive facility reported its water shortage Tuesday to the PSC, the Commission issued an order for WVAW to immediately begin operation and maintenance of the Gauley River and Kanawha Falls PSD systems.
The Commission further directed that all parties must sign their respective operation and management agreements within five business days from the Mount Olive report, or Monday. A status report released Monday afternoon states that WVAW has reviewed the two operations and maintenance agreements included in the order and discussed them with the districts' legal counsel. However, the agreements had not been signed by any parties as of press time Monday.
Mount Olive conditions
According to officials at Mount Olive, the facility was affected by the pressure drop, but it was never without clean, drinkable water due to on-site reserves and standard safety protocols.
“We have health and safety protocols in place to ensure the well-being of those entrusted to our care,†said David Kelly, Commissioner of the West Virginia Division of Corrections and Rehabilitation, in a news release.
Backup resources — including portable showers, handwashing stations and bottled water — were immediately accessed to ensure inmates and staff remained safe and healthy. The facility has over 950 inmates and maintains emergency supplies at all times.
No illness or complications were reported in relation to the water shortage.Ìý
Surrounding areas
Meanwhile, surrounding areas remain under a boil-water advisory since last Wednesday as the system stabilizes.Ìý
According to the West Virginia Department of Health and Human Resources, a boil water advisory was initiated Wednesday by the Gauley River PSD. The issue is cited as being related to the same pipe leakage.
The advisory is in effect for the Gauley River PSD's 1,200Â customers in the following locations, according to Alexis Weimer with the PSC:
Brownsville
Alta Belva
Dixie
Bentree
Bell Creek
Mount Olive
Twenty Mile
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