This bill proposes significant reforms to West Virginia's water infrastructure systems by amending existing laws and introducing new provisions. Key changes include transferring administrative authority over the Drinking Water Treatment Revolving Fund and the Water Pollution Control Revolving Fund to the West Virginia Department of Environmental Protection, while renaming the Infrastructure and Jobs Development Council to the Water Development and Infrastructure Council. The bill eliminates the Water Development Authority Board, redistributing its responsibilities to the newly named council, and allows private utilities to access low-interest loans, prioritizing public utilities. It also mandates training for municipal governing bodies overseeing water and wastewater utilities, establishes designated regions for these utilities, and creates a voluntary Early Intervention Pilot Program for utilities at risk of financial distress.

Additional provisions include modifying the process for identifying distressed utilities, establishing a mandatory improvement period, and allowing the Public Service Commission to facilitate the acquisition of such utilities. The bill codifies a Consolidation Committee to explore voluntary consolidation for infrastructure projects and sets new guidelines for state funding eligibility based on compliance with regulations. It also introduces the "Distressed and Failing Water and Wastewater Utilities Improvement Act," which defines distressed utilities and establishes reporting and training requirements. Overall, the legislation aims to enhance the management and funding of water infrastructure projects while ensuring compliance with state and federal regulations, ultimately improving the quality and reliability of water services in West Virginia.

Statutes affected:
Introduced Version: 22-36-1, 22-36-3, 22-36-4, 22-36-5, 22C-1-3, 22C-1-4, 22C-1-5, 22C-1-6a, 22C-1-8, 22C-2-1, 22C-2-3, 22C-2-4, 22C-2-5, 24-2H-1, 24-2H-3, 24-2H-4, 24-2H-5, 24-2H-6, 24-2H-7, 24-2H-8, 31-15A-1, 31-15A-2, 31-15A-3, 31-15A-10, 31-15A-13, 31-15A-17, 22C-1-5a, 24-2H-3a, 24-2H-3b, 24-2H-3c, 24-2H-4a, 24-2H-7a, 31-15A-3a, 31-15A-9a