Bill > HB5525

This bill, known as the Southern West Virginia Clean Water Fund Act of 2026, aims to improve drinking water quality and infrastructure in thirteen southern West Virginia counties by establishing a dedicated fund. This fund will provide grants and low-interest loans to upgrade water treatment plants and replace aging pipelines, with priority given to rural and underserved areas. The bill mandates that the Department of Environmental Protection, or "Department," set drinking water quality standards that meet or exceed federal guidelines, and regularly update maximum contaminant levels, which are the highest permissible levels of substances like lead, arsenic, and PFAS (perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances) in water, based on scientific research. Public water systems will be required to conduct quarterly testing for various contaminants and make the results public within 30 days, with any violations of maximum contaminant levels reported to residents within 24 hours. The bill also includes a phased initiative to replace all lead service lines by 2035, offering financial assistance to low-income households for this purpose, and establishes penalties for water utilities that fail to meet standards, with fines to be reinvested in the clean water fund.

Transportation and Infrastructure

http://www.wvlegislature.gov/Bill_Status/Bills_history.cfm?input=5525&year=2026&sessiontype=RS&btype=bill