Update: Strengthening Our Water Infrastructure in Nemours, Yards, and Wolfe
We are committed to keeping our community informed about the vital infrastructure work happening right in your backyard. One of our most significant current efforts is the Pocahontas Waterline Replacement Project, which focuses on the West Virginia side of our service area.
This project isn’t just about new pipes; it’s about ensuring a more reliable, safer, and more efficient water system for every home and business we serve.
What is the Goal of This Project?
The primary mission of this project is to replace the aging water distribution system—the network of pipes and meters that delivers water to your tap. This work specifically serves residents in the communities of Nemours, Yards, and Wolfe along County Route 102.
By upgrading these old lines, we are aiming to:
- Reduce Water Loss: Replacing deteriorating pipes and old meters helps prevent leaks and ensures more of the water we process actually reaches your home.
- Improve Fire Protection: We are upgrading the size and quality of the lines to provide “fire flow,” which gives our local fire departments the water pressure and volume they need to keep us safe.
Where Do Things Stand Right Now?
Infrastructure projects involve several behind-the-scenes steps, including a public bidding process where contractors tell us what it will cost to do the work.
Recently, we reached a major milestone by opening the project for bids on December 4, 2025. However, the process didn’t go exactly as expected. A single contractor submitted bids for two different parts of the work, but later withdrew their bid for one of those parts.
Furthermore, upon reviewing the numbers with our funding partners, it was determined that the costs submitted were significantly higher than what we usually see in the current market.
What Happens Next?
Because we want to be responsible with the project funds and your utility dollars, the Mercer County and Tazewell County Public Service Districts are currently weighing two options: accepting the current bids or rejecting them to look for a better solution.
Our project team is currently:
- Meeting with Experts: We are consulting with state agencies like the West Virginia Infrastructure and Jobs Development Council (WVIJDC) to find the best path forward.
- Monitoring the Market: We are keeping a close eye on the construction industry to see if more competitive pricing becomes available.
- Securing Final Funding: We are working to ensure every dollar is in place before we break ground.
We know that waiting for a project to start can be frustrating, but taking the time to “get it right” now ensures that the new system will serve our community for decades to come.
For more technical details, you can view the full Project Status Update PDF attached to this post.
