As manufacturers, we understand that reliable infrastructure is not an abstract policy discussion — it is the foundation of whether a business can operate, grow, and create jobs in West Virginia.
Water infrastructure is central to that reality. Beyond the needs of workers to have access to water at manufacturing plants, employers nearly always need some amount of water to make their products, provide fire protection, and meet the basic requirements of staying in operation. When water systems fail, production slows or stops, safety is compromised, and economic activity suffers.
These risks are common in West Virginia. Some of our member companies operate in rural communities served by small water systems that are aging, under-resourced, and increasingly vulnerable to extreme weather. A pipe break can halt operations. Undetected leaks drive up costs. Flooding can take entire systems offline with no quick path to recovery. These are not isolated incidents — they are growing challenges that affect both employers and the communities they support.
At the same time, the state is making meaningful progress. Recent water and sewer infrastructure investments announced by Governor Morrisey reflect an important commitment to strengthening these systems and supporting long-term economic development. These efforts are critical, and they underscore a broader truth: investment matters, but how those dollars are used matters just as much.
That is why Congress should advance the Water Infrastructure Modernization Act (WIMA). This bipartisan legislation takes a practical approach to a persistent problem by focusing not just on funding levels, but on smarter deployment of resources. It would help utilities adopt proven technologies such as advanced leak detection, real-time monitoring, smart metering, and predictive analytics — tools that allow systems to identify problems early, reduce water loss, and make more strategic infrastructure investments.
The results from these approaches are compelling. Utilities that have implemented modern water technologies have significantly reduced water loss, improved system reliability, and lowered long-term operating costs. Research suggests that digital water solutions can reduce the cost of building resilience to extreme weather by up to 40 percent — a meaningful difference for small systems operating on tight margins.
For manufacturers, these improvements translate directly into greater certainty and competitiveness. Businesses need to know that the infrastructure they depend on will function reliably — not just today, but years into the future. Without that confidence, it becomes harder to justify new investment, expansion, or job creation in the very communities that need it most. It is the same level of service that residential customers also expect.
West Virginia has already benefited from historic federal investment through the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, and Senator Capito’s leadership in delivering those resources has made a real difference across the Mountain State. But as we build on that progress, it is essential that we prioritize modernization over short-term fixes. Continuing to patch outdated systems without adopting more efficient and resilient technologies will only prolong the challenges we are trying to solve.
Reliable water infrastructure is a prerequisite for economic growth. It supports manufacturing, protects public health, and ensures that communities remain viable places to live and work. If West Virginia is serious about attracting new industry and retaining existing employers, modernizing our water systems must be part of that strategy.
The Water Infrastructure Modernization Act offers a clear path forward. It equips utilities with the tools to move from reactive maintenance to proactive management, strengthens resilience against increasingly frequent weather events, and ensures that public investments deliver lasting value.
The West Virginia Manufacturers Association urges Senators Capito and Justice to support this legislation. Our state’s economic future depends on infrastructure that works — not just in the moment, but for the long term. WIMA is a practical, bipartisan step toward that goal, and it is one worth advancing.
Dr. Bill Bissett is the President of the West Virginia Manufacturers Association, a statewide advocacy group that represents manufacturers as well as companies dependent on manufacturing for their livelihoods.
