West Virginia Gov. Patrick Morrisey announced late last month that the state is committing $19 million to the Clarksburg Water Board to assist in its lead water pipe replacement project, which is estimated to cost more than $50 million. The investment will support the water board’s ongoing work to improve Clarksburg’s aging water infrastructure.
This ongoing infrastructure project began in 2021 after tests showed that several children in the Clarksburg area had elevated levels of lead in their blood. The cause was reasoned to be due to exposure to eroding and aging water service lines. Following this study, the parents of two exposed children filed a lawsuit against the Water Board. In 2021, the Clarksburg Water Board received administrative orders from both the state health department and the federal Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to draw up a corrective action plan.
The $19 million in funding will fund the final phase of the project to replace lead lines across the region. During the final 3B phase, 2,400 lead service lines that pose serious health risks to exposed individuals will be removed and replaced. The funding will also assist with upgrading the system’s water mains, enhancing fire protection, decreasing leaks and modernizing water meters for residents. The Clarksburg Water Board provides water service to about 7,800 households in the area and sells water to thousands of additional customers.
The entire final phase of the project will cost a total of $50 million. Project officials anticipate opening the project to bids in early 2026 with construction then expected to start around June 2026. Once underway, it will take three or four years for the project to be completed, according to project officials.
The Clarksburg lead pipe replacement project aligns with a federal rule implemented under President Joe Biden in 2024 that requires all water systems throughout the country to find and replace millions of lead service lines by 2037. Under this rule, West Virginia would need to find and replace at least 3% of its existing water service lines, according to the EPA.
Photo by Luis Quintero from Pexels
This project falls under Government Market News’ Water Project category. For more water projects nationwide, click here. Additional water projects and detailed project descriptions can be found on Strategic Partnerships, Inc.’s website.
