Clean Water in the Coalfields
Clean, potable water is a human right. If the government is able to find the money for corporate tax breaks and pet projects, it can make sure every West Virginian has water that is safe to drink and bathe in.
In 2014, there was a chemical spill in the Elk River, and ever since, West Virginians have been repeatedly reminded that our water infrastructure is old, underfunded, and neglected. In many coalfield communities, pipes are failing, and treatment systems are outdated. Residents are also paying more than ever for water that still isn’t safe. For too long, state leadership has treated these problems as isolated incidents instead of a systemic infrastructure crisis, when it clearly is.
My Plan
Take the time to launch a statewide audit of aging water systems to identify the most urgent infrastructure failures.
Prioritize state investments in pipe replacement, treatment upgrades, and regional water system modernization in the most affected counties.
Create oversight and emergency response standards for water utilities. This would work to prevent another Elk River-style disaster.
How We Can Get There
We can use federal infrastructure funding and state bonding authority to invest directly in water system upgrades as well as establish clear legislative standards that require transparency from utilities and faster state intervention when systems fail.