WEIRTON — While some residents push for the possibility of a full update to Weirton’s water distribution system in response to the city’s recent issues, officials with the Weirton Area Water Board say it’s easier said than done.

Weirton remains under a mandatory water conservation order as the storage system operated by the Weirton Area Water Board continues to be only about one-third of its capacity following months of line breaks.

Some comments from the public have pointed to the potential age of the system as being a major contributing factor, but Utilities Director A.D. “Butch” Mastrantoni explained the system is primarily comprised of a combination of galvanized steel and polyvinyl chloride piping.

“It’s not that the distribution system is old,” Mastrantoni said, reiterating the effects of cold weather, and shifting ground, on the structural integrity of the pipes.

In recent years, the board has adopted a phased approach for line replacements, allocating funds each year to focus on areas in the most need of attention.

Mastrantoni previously reported the board was able to replace lines under five streets in 2024 with the approximately $350,000 available.

Even if the board were to begin developing a plan for such a large-scale replacement project, Mastrantoni warns the costs would be in the range of between $37 million and $40 million.

According to the board’s 2024 annual report filed with the West Virginia Public Service Commission, Weirton’s water distribution system includes 141.89 miles of main water line, which officials noted are spread across approximately 18 square miles. The system serves 9,365 customers, mixing residential, business and industrial, with gross annual revenues of $5,609,006, according to the PSC report.

By comparison, the ongoing expansion of the Weirton water treatment plant — taking it from a 4 million gallons of water per day capacity to 8 million gallons per day — is scoped at $44 million, including $22.47 million in Congressionally Directed Spending, a $14.7 million loan from the West Virginia Infrastructure and Jobs Development Council, a $5.6 million match from the West Virginia Governor’s Office, $1 million from the West Virginia Water Development Authority, $200,000 from Weirton City Council, $100,000 from the Water Board and an additional $165,000 from the IJDC’s Overrun Program. Those funds were allocated specifically for the treatment plant project.

Water Board Chairman Jim Shockley explained, while the Weirton Area Water Board was able to receive assistance from the state and federal governments to expand the water treatment plant, it’s not likely such support would be available for an update to the distribution system, guaranteeing the need for a rate increase.

“You’re not going to get any help for that,” Shockley said. “It would fall on the backs of all of us.”

Assistant Director Jasen Havens pointed to statistics of water rates throughout West Virginia, explaining, based on a usage of 3,400 gallons, Weirton’s rates are the 77th least costly to its customers out of 330 water systems.

“We’re in the bottom quarter for what we charge our customers,” Havens said.

According to the West Virginia PSC, Weirton’s rates, based on the 3,400-gallon usage, includes a minimum charge of $17, with a rate of $35.60 per 3,400 gallons of water. Weirton’s population in 2023 was 18,386.

Compare those numbers to other cities in the region, such as Wheeling, with a 26,208 population and a minimum water rate of $12.99 and $27.10 per 3,400 gallons; Chester, with a 2,113 population, a $32.85 minimum charge and a $37.06 per 3,400 gallons rate; Beech Bottom with a 524 population and a minimum rate of $37 and $37 per 3,400 gallons; Follansbee with a population of 2,692, a $11.29 minimum and $38.39 per 3,400 gallons rate; and New Cumberland with a 984 population and a $24.88 minimum and $42.30 per 3,400 gallons rate.

Mastrantoni noted the board is reluctant to increase water rates on its customers, and will continue with the phased replacement approach in the immediate future, assessing the conditions of the system beginning in the spring, and replacing the areas most in need.