CHARLESTON — After four years of filings, hearings and negotiations, the sale of the sewer system operated by the Newell Co. has been finalized.

The Public Service Commission of West Virginia, on Tuesday, gave its final approval of the purchase of the sewer system to the Hancock County Public Service District. The decision follows a joint petition by the two entities in November, along with a separate transportation and treatment agreement.

Under the terms of the agreement, the Hancock PSD will pay $1,361,079 for the sewer system, which has been owned and operated by the Fiesta Tableware Co. The Newell Co. was founded in July 1905.

Through the purchase, Newell will convey property to the PSD for the construction of a pumping station, while continuing to provide service to its customers until all of the Hancock PSD’s improvement projects for the system are completed. There will be no change in customer rates for 24 months without approval from the PSC.

The sale follows an initial filing in 2020, in which the utility company requested the state declare it to be a failing system. The declaration was made by the PSC in 2022, with an official order issued in February 2023.

Under the agreement, Newell customers will become customers of Hancock PSD, but Newell will continue to operate and maintain the system while Hancock is making certain upgrades and improvements. Those upgrades have an estimated cost of $17 million, with much of the funding made available through state and federal grants and loans.

The acquisition will mean an estimated 450 additional customers will be served by the PSD.

The Hancock PSD is not assuming any of Newell’s debt, the agreement said.

Earlier this year, the Tomlinson PSD was given its own approval to purchase the Newell Co.’s water system, at a sale cost of $1,638,921.