SENATE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION NO. 85

(By Senators Unger, Kessler (Mr. President), Blair, Boley, Cann, Carmichael, Facemire, Green, M. Hall, Jenkins, Kirkendoll, Laird, McCabe, Nohe, Plymale, Snyder, Stollings, Walters, Wells, Williams, Yost and D. Hall)

Requesting the Joint Legislative Oversight Commission on State Water Resources study the needs, challenges and issues related to the aging water infrastructures in West Virginia, water shortages and the lack of safe drinking water available to all citizens of West Virginia.

    Whereas, The importance of safe drinking water to public health, the environment and the economic welfare of our communities is undisputed; and

    Whereas, The January 9, 2014, chemical spill in the Elk River that affected the water supply for three hundred thousand West Virginians brought national and state attention to water quality; and

    Whereas, The four hundred thirty residents of Bud, West Virginia, a small town in Wyoming County, have been without water for the past six months as result of the death of the owner of the local water company; and

    Whereas, Due to aging water systems in McDowell County that frequently break, nearly three thousand of its residents experience water outages or are continuously under water-boil notices; and

    Whereas, Many residents in Summers County face poor water quality or well contamination as a result of septic systems that empty into or near water sources; and

    Whereas, Many West Virginians must continually replace filtration systems that corrode due to the poor water quality; and

    Whereas, While nine counties were affected by the January, 2014, chemical spill that adversely affected the water quality of three hundred thousand residents, many additional rural West Virginians face similar water quality issues on a daily basis; and

    Whereas, The West Virginia Infrastructure and Jobs Development Council estimates that forty percent of households statewide are not served by a public water system; and

    Whereas, Infrastructure funds in the 2015 State Budget have been slated to be cut from $40 million to $20 million, even though the need for investment in water infrastructure continues to far outpace the amount of funding that is available at all levels of government; and

    Whereas, Congress has cut funding for the Drinking Water State Revolving Fund loan program in recent years; and

    Whereas, The Region 1 Planning and Development Council estimates it would cost more than $250 million to meet priority water and sewage needs in the state’s southernmost six counties alone; and

    Whereas, The Legislature finds that it should take an active role in studying, formulating and implementing resources that address the causes of the lack of quality water around the state; therefore, be it

    Resolved by the Legislature of West Virginia:

    That the Joint Legislative Oversight Commission on State Water Resources is hereby requested to study the needs, challenges and issues related to the aging water infrastructures in West Virginia, water shortages and the lack of safe drinking water available to all citizens of West Virginia; and, be it

    Further Resolved, That the Commission on State Water Resources work with the Joint Legislative Oversight Commission on State Water Resources in its study; and, be it

    Further Resolved, That the Joint Legislative Oversight Commission on State Water Resources report to the regular session of the Legislature, 2015, on its findings, conclusions and recommendations, together with drafts of any legislation necessary to effectuate its recommendations; and, be it

    Further Resolved, That the expenses necessary to conduct this study, to prepare a report and to draft necessary legislation be paid from legislative appropriations to the Joint Committee on Government and Finance.