Pure Water

Pure, clean water is essential for life. Because water is abundant in West Virginia, we have been slow to recognize the threats to the safe water we need for drinking, for wildlife habitat and for outdoor recreation.

This came home to us in 2014 when chemicals from above-ground tanks owned by Freedom Industries leaked into the Elk River above Charleston, polluting the drinking water for 300,000 West Virginians in 9 counties.

The threats to our pure water are many, including failing municipal waste treatment plants, industrial pollution, agricultural runoff, and urban stormwater runoff.

The West Virginia Legislature has seemed reluctant to address these threats. We plan to change that.

Read the Study on the Impact of Pipeline Construction on Streams by Trout Unlimited and West Virginia Rivers»

Our Pure Water Platform

We support the passage of the Clean Drinking Water Act.

We support legislation that will create a funding mechanism from fees paid by drilling companies for both preventing and plugging abandoned or orphan gas and oil wells.

We support a new regulatory approach to pipeline construction that would require stream by stream crossing plans, enhanced best management practices on sensitive waters such as wild trout streams, and substantially increase fines for permit violations. 

2025 Pure Water Bills – Coming Soon

HB 2416

Allowing increased civil administrative penalties to be promulgated by legislative rules of by the Department of Environmental Protection

This bill increases the amounts that can be assessed of civil administrative penalties of the Department of Environmental Protection on individual or general construction stormwater West Virginia/National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System permits and General Water Pollution Control Permits for larger acreage permits.

Sponsors: Evan Hansen

CWV Position: Supports

Status: Introduced on 2/17/25 and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary then Finance.

HB 3502

Appropriations from the state Revenue Shortfall Fund and the Income Tax Reserve Fund be utilized to initiate investments in flood prevention initiatives to reduce the impact of severe flooding

This bill jumpstarts the state's State Resiliency and Flood Protection Act to allow the Resiliency Office to begin the work off assisting areas of the state prone to flooding to undertake actions to reduce or prevent future flooding.

Sponsors: Sean Hornbuckle

CWV Position: Supports

Status: Introduced on 3/18/25; referred to the House Committee on Government Organization then Finance.

SB 583

Establishing economic incentives for data centers to locate within state

This bill creates economic incentives for data centers to locate within the state and incentivizes the centers torely on locally sourced coal generated electricity. The bill also provides an exemption from the B&O tax for all coal-generated electricity sold to qualifying data centers and provides a sales tax exemption for all personal property sold to and used in the construction or maintenance of a qualifying data center.

Sponsors: Randy Smith

CWV Position: Opposes

Status: Introduced on 2/24/25 and referred to the Senate Committee on Economic Development; and then to Senate Committee on Finance]

SB 161

Providing water filtration equipment to residents whose water is deemed unsafe

This bill addresses water quality concerns affecting residents of WV by requiring the Department of Health to assess whether public water sources contain harmful levels of contaminants. Further, the DOH would provide water filtration equipment or technology to residents with unsafe water and establish provisions for rulemaking.

Sponsors: Laura Chapman

CWV Position:

Status: Introduced on 2/12/25 and referred to Senate Committee on Natural Resources; and then to Senate Committee on Finance

SB 592

Relating generally to above ground storage tanks

This bill removes the requirement for certified inspectors to assess oil and gas waste tanks, exempting over 700 tanks located closest to drinking water sources.

Sponsors: Patrick Martin

CWV Position: Opposes

Status: Introduced on 2/25/25 and referred to Senate Committee on Energy, Industry, and Mining. This bill passed the Senate on 3/14/25 and was referred to the House Energy and Public Works Committee on 3/17/25.

HB 3025

Relating to a State Water Resources Management Plan

This bill sets reporting requirements for underground water extracted in growth counties. Further, it directs the Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) to oversee the development of a comprehensive water management plan, considering factors such as surface and groundwater resources, water withdrawals, and infrastructure needs. The bill also requires large water users to report their monthly water withdrawals annually to the DEP.

Sponsors: Joe Funkhouser

CWV Position: Supports

Status: Introduced 2/27/25; referred to the House Committee on Energy and Public Works

HB 3475

Relating to establishing the West Virginia Clean Water Act of 2025

This bill creates the West Virginia Clean Water Act of 2025, aimed at improving water quality standards, testing for and removing various contaminants, and replacing lead service lines in all public water systems.

Sponsors: Evan Worrell

CWV Position: Supports

Status: Introduced 3/17/25; referred to the House Committee on Energy and Public Works then Finance.