PINEVILLE, W.Va. (WOAY) – Certain Pineville residents have been without clean drinking water for over a year, and as local relief efforts face unseen challenges, water rations have gotten more strict than ever before, forcing those giving it out to deny extra cases.
“I had to turn some people away, and we only give two cases out per family, and some of these people got six or seven people in their family,” Richard Altizer, a local resident said.
The EPA states that the average person uses 80-100 gallons of water a day. A typical case of water, containing 24 standard 16.9 ounce water bottles, holds approximately 1.5 gallons of water, a family of 6-7 is given two of these, meaning they have 3 gallons between a max of 7 people to last a week.
Even though it is minimal, residents are thankful for anything they can get.
“It’s been a major major help, we appreciate everybody that has been a help in bringing water here for us,” a local resident said.
In the warmer months, water distribution took place 100% outside resident’s homes, but with growing fears the water would freeze and burst residents needed to find another solution. As it got colder, a local church offered its space to keep the water from freezing, allowing for an additional 2-3 hours of use per week. The situation seemed to be getting better until the church noticed the electricity bill had spiked over 900%.
“The church said that we could use this as long as we paid the $50 electric bill that had been going, and man it jumped $500 on us. I don’t even know how it could do that because we only use it for two and a half hours a week at the most,” Altizer said.
The Wyoming County Commission donated 2 jug water pallets in December which have been depleted. Locals in the area have teamed up with the West Virginia non-profit Blue Jay rising to help fund more water for the community.
Residents believe this is the result of mining efforts in the area, which have been subject to investigation for over a year and a half. As the court case addressing this issue drags on, residents are still without water and unsure what to do next.
“As it stands we have no more money for anybody for water on Indian Creek,” Altizer said.
