CANNELTON HOLLOW, WV (WOAY) – Residents in Cannelton Hollow are likely not to see relief from raw sewage leaks for years as the controversial sale of several Fayette County PSDs is being weighed by the West Virginia Public Service Commission.
On Monday, January 12th, West Virginia American Water filed a partial response to the Public Service Commission staff’s data request regarding the situation in Cannelton Hollow.
In the filing in response to the Public Service Commission staff’s data request regarding the sale, West Virginia American Water states that any repair would take approximately four years to complete, and no design drawings have been prepared.
“The Company has also committed to pursue, evaluate, and otherwise determine any proposed temporary solutions related to any and all odors, discharges, and other issues related to Cannelton Hollow, but at this time it has not identified a feasible temporary solution and that evaluation will likely take place closer to or after closing of the transaction,” the company said in the filing.
You can read the full response here:
dck20260112162857The company is still waiting on a decision on the sale. In the meantime, it could be 2030 before raw sewage is prevented from entering Smithers Creek, a tributary of the Kanawha River.
Jonthan Grose, chairman of the Kanawha Falls PSD, says the district has a plan to make repairs if the sale is not approved. The board of the Kanawha Falls PSD has consistently opposed the sale.
“It’s a pretty substantial project. It will take about a year to a year and a half to complete. But with that being said, you know, we could easily have this project up and running and done, say, 30 months or so,” he said.
Why has it taken more than three years? According to Grose, the process of working with FEMA takes time, and the matter was further complicated due to the fact that sewer lines are no longer able to run as close to a creek bed, and more funding was needed to meet current standards.
He also said the portions of line are still located too close to that creek bed and have to be removed for the West Virginia Department of Environmental Protection to approve those replacements.
The sale of the PSDs was initially to be ruled on in May 2025. Delays in the sale and objections over the nature of the agreement has pushed the sale back into 2026. An evidentiary hearing has been set for March 27.
“For those who are in the state and feel that Kanwha Falls is neglecting their area and not servicing their patrons. I would say that they really need to look really hard at the state level and the people of influential power that control the flow of money in and out of these areas,” Grose said.
WOAY reached out to delegate Elliott Pritt, who represents residents of Cannelton Hollow on the state of repairs. He provided this statement.
“The only thing I will say is that the people I represent are tired of raw sewage – literal crap – flowing through their back yards, and they’re tired of being forced to pay for a service they aren’t actually getting. I do not care who fixes it. I do not care if it is WV American Water or the state. But it is obvious [Kanawha Falls PSD] cannot handle the daily operation and maintenance of their system in their current posture,” he said. “I would hope that in the forefront of everyone’s mind are the living conditions of the people of Cannelton above every other consideration. In the end, that is all that matters. The continued existence of a PSD comes second to the health and safety of my constituents. And that is just the way it is,” he said.
Pritt said the project needs to be given the green light so it can start immediately.
WOAY also asked the West Virginia Department of Environmental Protection about the ongoing discharge in Cannelton Hollow.
According to Chief Communications Officer Terry Fletcher, the DEP maintains that the ongoing discharge is in violation of the Clean Water Act. Fletcher said the agency has taken multiple enforcement actions against Kanawha Falls PSD, requiring immediate measures to initiate compliance under its permit and a proposed plan to fix the problem.
Fletcher said that the DEP considers the situation unacceptable, but also understands it is not an easy or fast fix.
“The WVDEP does not consider the ongoing discharge acceptable and the agency’s objective is to see the issue resolved as quickly as practicable. However, the permanent solution involves a major, multi-million-dollar infrastructure project to replace more than two miles of sewer line and associated appurtenances. Projects of this scale require design, permitting, and significant funding. Since the 2022 flood event, the WVDEP has remained actively engaged with all responsible parties and funding partners to advance interim controls and accelerate a long-term solution as quickly as possible,” he said.
WOAY will continue to provide updates as they become available.
