Bill > HB4615

This bill, titled the Public Water Supply Reform Act of 2026, aims to improve the management and transparency of public water systems, particularly concerning aboveground water storage tanks. It introduces new definitions for terms like "aboveground water storage tank" (AWST), which is defined as a tank holding over 1,320 gallons of drinking water, primarily made of non-earth materials, and more than 90% above ground. The bill mandates the creation of a water level status plan for these AWSTs, requiring at least two daily updates for tanks without telemetry (a system for transmitting data remotely), and encourages the use of telemetry where feasible. If telemetry is not feasible, the plan must account for local conditions and ensure adequate resources for manual measurements. This plan must be completed by July 1, 2028, and data must be accessible to public service districts, municipal water managers, governing bodies, and county emergency offices. Furthermore, the bill requires public water systems to submit quarterly operational and financial reports to their governing body, participate in "Open Checkbooks" (a transparency initiative), and undergo a forensic audit by the State Auditor's office if five or more formal complaints per 1,000 customers are filed with the Public Service Commission in a quarter. Finally, it ensures better communication during service disruptions by requiring public service districts to assign communication duties, provide updates every three hours, use platforms like social media, and offer a call-in number with a recorded message detailing the issue, affected area, and estimated restoration time.

Transportation and Infrastructure

http://www.wvlegislature.gov/Bill_Status/Bills_history.cfm?input=4615&year=2026&sessiontype=RS&btype=bill