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Water Board thanks workers, warns of continuing issues

WEIRTON — While Weirton water customers remain under a conservation order as a result of continuing line breaks and cold temperatures, officials with the Weirton Area Water Board took time Thursday to express appreciation for their crews.

“We do still have a mandatory conservation order,” Utilities Director A.D. “Butch” Mastrantoni said.

It was noted no crew members were in attendance at Thursday’s meeting, with Mastrantoni explaining employees have been working around the clock to take care of any additional line breaks, as well as work toward a resolution to the conservation order.

“All hands are on deck” Mastrantoni said. “They have my total appreciation. I’m in awe of them.”

Looking toward the next week, Mastrantoni explained weather forecasts are anticipating multiple days of frigid temperatures, and he has reached out to a local contractor to check on the possibility of having ancillary crews available in the event additional manpower is needed.

Mastrantoni explained the city’s water lines often experience breaks in the winter months, as a result of pressure from freezing and thawing ground.

“The water lines in the ground react differently to different circumstances,” he said, noting slower, more gradual changes in temperature typically don’t have as drastic an effect on the lines as sudden changes.

Jesse Alden, of Thrasher Engineering, pointed out such line breaks are taking place in communities all over West Virginia, noting, in particular, issues in Charleston and Huntington.

“The water systems all over the state are dealing with these issues,” Alden said. “It’s not just Weirton.”

Weirton’s issue is compounded, though, by not having its usual blend of river and well water available as a result of ongoing construction at the water treatment plant, resulting in water put into the system being colder than usual.

In related business, Mastrantoni addressed the effects of the conservation order on one particular business in the city.

The Wash-Rite Express Car Wash, located on Park Drive, has been among those shut down as a result of the order, but Mastrantoni said the business wants to make certain residents aren’t charged monthly membership fees during the closure.

“They’re working to give their customers a credit,” he said.

According to a notice posted on the Wash-Rite Express Car Wash website, the Weirton location has suspended billing for all monthly memberships as a result of the conservation order.

“Additionally, once we are able to reopen, we will ensure all accounts are credited appropriately,” the notice states. “We are actively working with the city every day to resolve this issue and resume operations as soon as possible. In the meantime, all of our memberships are being honored at our other locations or you can take advantage of the vacuum area at our Weirton location.”

In other matters, a resident attended Thursday’s meeting questioning the legal ownership of Weirton’s water systems, and also the authority of the Water Board as an autonomous entity.

Dan Guida, the board’s legal counsel, explained the Citizen’s Comments portion of the meeting, during which the resident addressed the board, was to take comments only, and “not a Q and A.”

George Ash, vice chairman of the board, said the resident could submit the questions in writing, and the board would respond.

“We’ll address them as soon as we can,” Ash said.

The resident also asked about measures the board uses to alert the community of water line breaks and other issues, asking if notifications could be sent to television or radio media.

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