Craig Howell MORE HELP – Gov. Patrick Morrisey visited Weirton Tuesday afternoon to announce plans to award $3.3 million, through the West Virginia Water Development Authority, to fund the Walnut Street water line replacement project. The Weirton Area Water Board previously was awarded $1 million for the project through the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers.

WEIRTON — The Weirton Area Water Board is set to receive additional assistance in its efforts to update parts of the city’s water distribution system, this time from the governor’s office.

Gov. Patrick Morrisey came to Weirton Tuesday to announce plans to provide $3.3 million to aid the water board, with funds to be distributed through the state’s Water Development Authority. The funding is in addition to $1 million in Congressionally Directed Spending through the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers announced at the end of March.

“That’s a little more than $4.3 million to provide clean, safe water to Weirton and the Northern Panhandle,” Morrisey said before a crowd gathered in the Weirton Room of the Millsop Community Center.

The grant, details of which still need to be finalized, will be used for the water board’s Walnut Street project, which includes replacing 3,500 feet of water lines, much of it serving the city’s downtown, and upgrading those lines from 12 inches to 18 inches.

Breaks in the existing 12-inch main line along Walnut Street, located just below Municipal Plaza, were a major contributor to the water conservation orders issued in Weirton in December 2024 and January 2025 after service was lost to much of downtown.

Crews were called to the area earlier this year for another break but made repairs without major long-term issues.

While the Weirton Area Water Board remains under a mandate from the West Virginia Public Service Commission to replace all existing cast iron and galvanized steel pipes in the distribution system, officials say the Walnut Street section will be key to the system’s future.

“We think that’s going to stabilize the entire distribution system,” Morrisey said.

Weirton Utilities Director A.D. “Butch” Mastrantoni noted the importance of the Water Development Authority grant, with the Walnut Street project estimated at more than $4 million.

“This, combined with the Army Corps funding, will fully fund the Walnut Street project,” Mastrantoni said.

The water board estimates replacing the remainder of the system, as ordered by the PSC, could cost around $190 million.

Weirton Mayor Dean Harris recalled the initial line breaks, boil orders and conservation orders occurred just before he and the current council took office, saying the assistance announced Tuesday will help address the city’s needs.

“We walked into it,” Harris said. “With your help, we’re going to see a resolution to the problem.”

Morrisey said he also took office shortly after the water issues arose and was quickly approached by Del. Pat McGeehan, R-Hancock, Del. Mark Zatezalo, R-Hancock, and state Sen. Laura Wakim Chapman, R-Ohio, for assistance.

“When they say our community needs help, I take it very seriously,” Morrisey said, noting that included deploying water buffaloes and emergency personnel to assist the water board and community.

Mastrantoni also thanked the legislators.

“We appreciate your hard work to secure this funding,” he said.

Zatezalo said water infrastructure issues seen in Weirton are occurring across West Virginia, as aging lines — many installed about 50 years ago under Clean Water Act regulations of the 1970s — can no longer handle current demands.

“That’s what happened to Weirton,” he said, adding it is important to focus first on the Walnut Street area. “You start where the problem started.”

McGeehan emphasized the importance of clean water in keeping a community united and thriving, while Chapman said the project will benefit residents.