WEST VIRGINIA (WOAY) – Over two years ago, residents in Wyoming County sent a letter to Congresswoman Carol Miller about toxic water and rising health concerns. But when WOAY asked Miller about the crisis earlier this year, she said it was the first she’d heard of it. What followed raised deeper questions about what officials knew, when they knew it, and what they did in response.
“I’ll have to do some homework. Thanks for bringing it to my attention,” said Congresswoman Carol Miller.
WOAY then asked, “Is this the first time you’ve been made aware of this?”
“Yes,” said Congresswoman Miller.
That was the exchange between Newswatch and Congresswoman Carol Miller earlier this year, when asked directly if she had known about the water crisis in Wyoming County, West Virginia.
Documents obtained by WOAY reveal that Miller’s office was contacted about the very same crisis in 2023 and responded.
“We sent her a letter in 2023 stating what was going on, and she sent us a letter back. Matter of fact, I got two letters from her… where she talked to the DEP,” Jamie Christian said.
Newswatch reviewed both letters. One confirms that Miller’s staff not only replied to the Christians but also communicated with the West Virginia DEP. In that exchange, Miller’s office asked to be kept informed as the situation unfolded.
Christian says the acknowledgment from federal representatives felt like a turning point, until the silence that followed.
“It really hurt, we had faith in federal, you know, and we still have a little faith in them, but we don’t trust nobody no more because everybody has lied to us,” said Christian.
As the water crisis and awareness spread, Miller’s on-camera denial came as a shock to those who believed they had already sent the issue straight to her office.
“When you lose some of your best friends and people down the creek are getting the same sickness, same cancer, and the elderly people aren’t able to get out and get fresh water, it hurts,” Christian said.
Just days before her denial, state officials had met to discuss what was being done to address the very same crisis.
Acknowledgment and Action
“With all of the concerns of water and problems in Wyoming County. I attended a meeting in Charleston that had probably 30 people in that meeting. And the idea was to find out what is being done to address those water problems,” said Senator Rollen A. Roberts.
Earlier this week, State Senator Rollan A. Roberts and Senator Brian Helton met with a group of about 30 state and local leaders in Charleston to discuss the worsening water crisis in Wyoming County. At that meeting, they reviewed a document showing that over $209 million in federal and state funding has been allocated to water projects in the county since 1995.
“We were given a list of water projects that were already completed in Wyoming County. We also had the ones that were technically feasible, a couple that were listed as critical needs, and other projects that were listed as under construction,” Sen. Roberts said.
Of that total, Roberts says about $114 million went to completed projects. Another $36 million is tied up in eight current projects under construction, including upgrades in Center, Budget, Herndon Heights, and the Route 10 corridor. Nine more projects, totaling $58 million, have been deemed “technically feasible,” but haven’t yet broken ground, and just two current projects, in Glen Rogers and Mullens, are classified as critical needs.
“They knew that there were water problems… but I highly suspect that they don’t even have the full list of all of the problems and needs there,” said Sen. Roberts.
He and Senator Brian Helton are now working to build a more coordinated approach to documenting the crisis and identifying underserved areas.
“There’s been a breakdown between the community and the state of West Virginia and the Water Development Authority Board. So what I’m trying to do, and Senator Helton is working with me on that, we are trying to lay things out and help teach people how we can get all of these needs addressed in a proper, in an organized fashion,” explained Sen. Roberts.
Despite the disorganization, Sen. Roberts made one thing clear: he hasn’t forgotten.
“I’m willing to help in any way. My number and my email address are public, and I will go to bat for Wyoming County,” said Sen. Roberts.
However, as state leaders begin stepping in, residents say the timeline matters. The contaminated water still flows, and residents are still pleading for federal or state intervention.
“We’re asking you Carol Miller, we need help,” said Christian. “We are struggling down here to get the water to the people that need it. There is a whole county affected by all the bad water.”
The next court hearing in case CC-55-2023-C-23 is scheduled for July 9th at 1 PM at the Wyoming County Courthouse.
Until then, the water keeps running.
