CHARLESTON, WV (LOOTPRESS) – A rural rally and press conference advocating for improved access to clean drinking water in southern West Virginia will be held at the State Capitol on Feb. 16 at 10 a.m.
The event, organized by the faith-based coalfield advocacy group From Below, will take place in front of the House Chamber at the West Virginia Capitol.
Organizers say the rally is intended to build support for the introduction and passage of the proposed Coalfield Clean Water Act.
Several residents from West Virginia’s southern coalfields who lack access to clean, safe drinking water are expected to speak during the press conference.
Members of the media will have an opportunity to ask questions. Coalfield residents will also meet with delegates throughout the day as part of Rural Health Day at the Legislature.
The proposed Coalfield Clean Water Act would appropriate $250 million from the state’s Rainy Day fund for use during public health emergencies.
Under the proposal, the funding would be directed toward approved, shovel-ready water improvement projects in southern West Virginia.
The money would be allocated to the highest-priority projects listed in the Fiscal Year 2027 West Virginia Drinking Water Treatment Revolving Fund Intended Use Plan for counties with chronically distressed water systems and widespread groundwater contamination.
Counties identified in the bill include Boone, Lincoln, Logan, McDowell, Mercer, Mingo, Raleigh and Wyoming.
The 2026 version of the Intended Use Plan lists $463 million in proposed water projects in the southern coalfields, while the fund currently has $56 million available statewide.
Many coalfield communities continue to struggle with aging water infrastructure and contamination that makes water unsafe for drinking, cooking or bathing.
Population decline and economic challenges have made system upgrades difficult, leaving residents with discolored or foul-smelling tap water. Some residents report health effects such as mouth sores and skin rashes, leading many to rely on bottled water or donated supplies.
Independent monitoring of residential tap water has detected multiple pollutants, including arsenic and lead, according to the advocacy group.
The Coalfield Clean Water Act is sponsored by David Green, R-McDowell, and Anitra Hamilton, D-Monongalia, and has bipartisan support in the West Virginia House of Delegates.
