Key Takeaways
- West Virginia American Water is actively searching for lead and specific galvanized service lines in the Charleston and Huntington areas through a process called “potholing.”
- The initiative is a proactive measure to comply with upcoming Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) regulations that mandate the replacement of all lead service lines by 2037.
- The utility company has confirmed it will cover the full cost of replacing any lead or qualifying galvanized water lines connected to a customer’s home.
- Crews are currently focused on older neighborhoods, but after three weeks of work, no lead lines have been discovered.
CHARLESTON, W.Va. — West Virginia American Water has launched a significant infrastructure project in Charleston and Huntington to identify and ultimately replace any existing lead water service lines. The utility is using a method known as “potholing” to proactively comply with new federal clean water standards.
Crews are carefully digging near water meters to expose service lines and determine their material. The effort is designed to create a comprehensive inventory of pipe materials to meet a 2037 deadline set by the EPA for the removal of all lead service lines nationwide.
Proactive Measures for EPA Compliance
This project ensures the utility gets ahead of the federal mandate, safeguarding water quality for its customers. According to senior project engineer Levi Filsinger, the financial burden of replacement will not fall on homeowners if a lead line is found.
“Because of the EPA regulation, by 2037, if it does happen to be lead or require replacement because it was downstream of lead and it’s galvanized… American Water would actually pay to have the water line replaced,” Filsinger explained.
How the Process Affects Residents
To keep the community informed, West Virginia American Water posts public notices and flyers seven days before work begins in a specific area. The company primarily aims to conduct its work within the public right-of-way to minimize disruption to private property.
However, Filsinger noted that residents who prefer not to have their yards dug up have another option.
“If we’re in the area… and you don’t want us to dig in the yard, come out and talk to our crew,” he said. “We’ll send a team of two in, and they can identify the water main inside, but they have to be able to get to the point where it enters the house.”
Early Findings and Future Timeline
The search is concentrated in older areas where the potential for lead pipes is highest. Despite these targeted efforts, the initial results have been promising.
“We are focusing on older areas that we think there’s the potential for lead, but to be completely honest, we’ve been doing this for three weeks now, and we haven’t found any lead,” Filsinger stated.
The identification phase of the project is expected to continue into 2026, with any necessary line replacements scheduled to begin in 2027.
Image Referance: https://wvmetronews.com/2025/11/30/west-virginia-american-water-conducting-operations-to-identify-lead-lines/
