Public Service Commission of West Virginia orders investigation into Mingo County PSD
RealWV Staff
MINGO COUNTY, W.Va. – The Public Service Commission of West Virginia has ordered a general investigation into the operations of the Mingo County Public Service District as customers are experiencing a prolonged water outage.
According to a press release from the West Virginia Department of Health, as of Jan. 25, approximately 2,100 customers across Mingo County are without water. The press release states this is due to “significant operational issues affecting local water systems.”
“The disruptions began following complications at the Mingo Public Service District’s (PSD) sediment basin and worsened due to the effects from recent low temperatures affecting both the Kermit Water Works and Mingo County PSD facilities. These technical difficulties have caused a reduction in the water supply available to Mingo County PSD, Crum and other select areas, impacting service for many residents,” the press release states.
Both the Department of Health and the West Virginia Department of Homeland Security are supporting local efforts in providing assistance to the residents affected by the water outage, including delivery of pallets of bottled water.
In a separate press release from the Public Service Commission of West Virginia, issued on Jan. 23, it was announced that staff “must file a report documenting its investigation into the operations of the Mingo County Public Service District by July 14.”
In this press release, it was stated that the Mingo County PSD didn’t properly maintain sediment basins for years. These sediment basins “made the water plant unable to adequately filter sediment from the water and meet turbidity standards. Water service was terminated to customers because the system could not treat water taken from the Tug Fork of the Big Sandy River since the system’s sediment tanks were full and could not handle the cleaning process.”
Approximately 600 Mingo County PSD customers have been without water in January, according to information from the West Virginia Public Service District.
The investigation will “determine whether the district is unable to adequately service its customers, has been effectively abandoned by its management, and whether its management is grossly and willfully inefficient and unresponsive to the needs of its customers for adequate water service.”
PSC staff has also been tasked with recommending whether a receiver should be appointed to take over the system and whether proceedings should be initiated under the Distressed and Failing Utilities Improvement Act of 2020, which might allow the system to be acquired by another utility.
The district’s 2022 annual report said it had 4,289 customers. More information on this case can be found on the PSC website: www.psc.state.wv.us. Click on “Case Information” and access Case No. 25-0027-LRR-PWD-GI.
In a social media post made on Jan. 24, the Mingo County PSD wrote the following:
We are continuing to run at full capacity, but we are having issues keeping water in the tanks due to over consumption or possible breaks in the lines. So now that the temperature has began to rise, we are asking our customers who have water to limit letting their water run, to help restored to those who are still without. We are currently looking for leaks and will have crews out throughout the weekend working on them. If you see or suspect a leak please call our office to report it. Our crews will respond as soon as possible.
We remain on the Boil Water Advisory for the whole water system except for the following areas, Justice, Delorme, Marrowbone, Lick Creek, Punchen Camp in Chattaroy to the old 84 Lumber, and form the top of Buffalo Mountain down to the Bank of Mingo in Delbarton. We will post with more information as it becomes available.”
