West Virginia American Water Responding to Operational Impacts of Widespread Flooding

West Virginia American Water is responding to isolated operational impacts from severe flooding across its service areas. The company has implemented emergency protocols at treatment facilities and operations centers to respond to damaged facilities, washed out water mains and power and communication outages. The company is not experiencing any system-wide operational impacts at this time.

The company’s main office on Pennsylvania Avenue in Charleston is without power, and several booster stations are running on generators. The access road to the New River Water Treatment Plant has been washed out, but the facility remains staffed and operational. Many facilities are without phone or internet service, so all customer service questions should be directed to the company’s Customer Service Center at 1-800-685-8660. Emergency alerts will be communicated through the company’s CodeRED emergency notification system and posted online at www.westvirginiaamwater.com under “Alert Notifications” and via social media.

Three primary areas are experiencing water outages due to flooding:

• Kanawha County: Approximately 3,000 customers are experiencing water outages in areas around Clendenin and Elkview due to widespread flooding, which has washed out several water mains and damaged a number of pump stations. Crews are working to access the impacted areas to assess the damage once floodwaters recede. At this time, an estimated restoration time cannot be determined, but it is expected to be a multiple-day response. Company crews will be working with emergency responders and road crews to gain access and plan repairs once areas become accessible. Once water service is restored, a precautionary boil water advisory will be in place.
• Fayette County: Approximately 500 customers are experiencing a water outage in the communities of Lookout, Spyrock, Winona and Edmond. Flood waters have washed out a river crossing water main, which drained area water storage tanks. Repairs are not yet underway due to continued high water, and at this time, an estimated restoration time cannot be determined. Once water service is restored, a precautionary boil water advisory will be in place.
• Boone County: Approximately 50 customers along Joes Creek are experiencing a water outage due to a creek crossing water main being washed out by flood waters. The main has been valved off, but crews are currently unable to access the area to make repairs.

“Our crews are working around the clock to respond to water emergencies, but we anticipate much longer than usual restoration times due to many areas being completely inaccessible,” said West Virginia American Water president Jeff McIntyre. “We will continue to coordinate with emergency responders and road crews to access and repair damaged facilities as quickly and safely as conditions will allow.”

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