The bill seeks to reform West Virginia's water infrastructure systems by amending various sections of the state's code and introducing new provisions. It grants the West Virginia Department of Environmental Protection administrative authority over the Drinking Water Treatment Revolving Fund and the Water Pollution Control Revolving Fund, while renaming the Infrastructure and Jobs Development Council to the Water Development and Infrastructure Council. The bill eliminates the Water Development Authority Board, transferring its responsibilities to the newly named council, and allows private utilities to access low-interest loans through the Water Development Authority, prioritizing public utilities in the loan issuance process. Additionally, it establishes mandatory reporting requirements for municipal governing bodies and county commissions, along with training for those overseeing public water and wastewater utilities.

Further, the bill introduces the "Distressed and Failing Water and Wastewater Utilities Improvement Act," which outlines definitions for distressed utilities and mandates reporting and training requirements. It creates an Early Intervention Pilot Program to assist utilities at risk of financial instability, allowing the Public Service Commission to select participants and develop individualized action plans. The bill also revises the process for acquiring distressed utilities, including stipulations for determining acquisition prices and responsibilities of the acquiring utility. Overall, the legislation aims to enhance the management and funding of water resources in the state while ensuring compliance with environmental standards and improving the overall infrastructure.

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