The resolution introduced on March 3, 2026, requests the Joint Committee on Government and Finance to study strategies aimed at reducing non-revenue water in West Virginia's public water systems. Non-revenue water, which includes treated water that does not generate revenue due to leaks, aging infrastructure, and inefficiencies, places a financial burden on households and contributes to high residential water rates in the state. The resolution emphasizes the importance of targeting systems with the highest water loss to maximize cost savings, improve sustainability, and stabilize long-term water rates without increasing charges to customers.

The study will encompass various aspects, including the identification of high-loss systems, evaluation of leak detection technologies, and analysis of the financial impacts of non-revenue water. It will also explore strategies for reinvesting cost savings into infrastructure repairs, the feasibility of state-supported leak detection programs, and innovative financing mechanisms such as special bond programs and performance-based incentives. The Joint Committee is expected to report its findings and recommendations to the Legislature by December 1, 2026, with the goal of enhancing the efficiency and reliability of public water systems across West Virginia.