State ruling orders improved water quality for Mingo County PSD – WSAZ

Report on Mingo County Public Service District Corrective Action Mandate

Introduction and Alignment with Sustainable Development Goals

The West Virginia Public Service Commission has issued a ruling mandating the Mingo County Public Service District (PSD) to implement a corrective action plan and a rate adjustment. This directive is a direct response to failures in providing essential services, fundamentally addressing the principles of Sustainable Development Goal 6 (SDG 6: Clean Water and Sanitation), which aims to ensure the availability and sustainable management of water and sanitation for all.

Investigation Findings and SDG Implications

An investigation initiated in early 2025, following numerous customer complaints, revealed significant deficiencies that contravene several Sustainable Development Goals. The key findings include:

• Poor Service Quality: Persistent customer complaints regarding water quality indicate a failure to meet the targets of SDG 6, specifically access to safe and affordable drinking water.
• Deteriorated Infrastructure: The facility was found to be in “poor condition,” highlighting a critical gap in achieving SDG 9 (Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure) by failing to maintain reliable, sustainable, and resilient infrastructure.
• Workplace Hazards: The presence of “safety issues” conflicts with the objectives of SDG 8 (Decent Work and Economic Growth), which promotes safe and secure working environments for all workers.

Mandated Action Plan for Sustainable Infrastructure and Services

The Public Service Commission has required the Mingo County PSD to develop a comprehensive plan to address these systemic issues. The mandated components of this plan are crucial for achieving long-term sustainability and align with multiple SDGs:

1. Enhance Human Resources: Address the critical lack of employees to ensure proper operational capacity, supporting SDG 8 by creating stable employment and improving service delivery.
2. Modernize Critical Infrastructure: Implement a program for replacing failing and outdated equipment. This action is central to building resilient infrastructure as outlined in SDG 9 and is a prerequisite for guaranteeing clean water under SDG 6.
3. Secure Long-Term Financial Viability: Actively seek sustainable, long-term funding to resolve ongoing problems. This aligns with SDG 11 (Sustainable Cities and Communities) by ensuring the financial stability required to maintain essential public services.
4. Improve Water Management and Affordability: Amend leak adjustment rates to promote water conservation and ensure fair billing, directly supporting SDG 6.4, which focuses on increasing water-use efficiency and reducing water losses.

This intervention by a state-level body exemplifies the function of SDG 16 (Peace, Justice, and Strong Institutions) by holding public utilities accountable and ensuring effective governance for community well-being.

1. SDGs Addressed in the Article

The issues highlighted in the article, primarily concerning the poor quality of water service in Mingo County, West Virginia, are directly connected to several Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). These goals focus on ensuring basic human needs, health, and sustainable infrastructure.

• SDG 6: Clean Water and Sanitation

  This is the most prominent SDG related to the article. The core issue revolves around the Mingo County Public Service District’s failure to provide adequate water services, as evidenced by “numerous customer complaints over water quality” and the facility being in “poor condition.” The goal aims to ensure the availability and sustainable management of water and sanitation for all.

• SDG 3: Good Health and Well-being

  Poor water quality and “safety issues” at the water facility pose a direct threat to the health and well-being of the community. Unsafe drinking water can lead to a variety of waterborne diseases, making this SDG highly relevant.

• SDG 9: Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure

  The article explicitly mentions the need for “replacing failing and outdated equipment” and “seeking long-term funding.” This points directly to the need for resilient, reliable, and sustainable infrastructure, which is the focus of SDG 9.

• SDG 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities

  Access to safe and reliable basic services, such as clean water, is a cornerstone of a sustainable community. The service failures described in the article undermine the sustainability and safety of the Mingo County community.

2. Specific Targets Identified

Based on the article’s content, several specific targets under the identified SDGs can be pinpointed.

• Target 6.1: Achieve universal and equitable access to safe and affordable drinking water for all.

  The investigation into the Mingo County PSD was triggered by “numerous customer complaints over water quality,” indicating that residents do not have reliable access to safe drinking water. The ruling that requires the PSD to amend its “leak adjustment rates” also touches upon the affordability aspect of the water service.

• Target 9.1: Develop quality, reliable, sustainable and resilient infrastructure… with a focus on affordable and equitable access for all.

  The state’s discovery that the facility was in “poor condition” with “failing and outdated equipment” directly relates to this target. The mandated action plan to address these issues is a step towards developing the quality and reliability of the water infrastructure.

• Target 3.9: Substantially reduce the number of deaths and illnesses from hazardous chemicals and air, water and soil pollution and contamination.

  The mention of “safety issues” and poor water quality implies a direct risk of water contamination, which can lead to illnesses. Improving the water service is a preventative measure to protect public health, aligning with this target.

• Target 6.b: Support and strengthen the participation of local communities in improving water and sanitation management.

  The entire investigation was initiated because of “numerous customer complaints.” This demonstrates a form of community participation, where residents’ feedback led to regulatory action by the West Virginia Public Service Commission to improve water management.

3. Indicators Mentioned or Implied

The article does not cite official, quantitative SDG indicators, but it provides qualitative information that can serve as proxies or direct measures of progress towards the identified targets.

• Indicator for Target 6.1: Number and nature of customer complaints.

  The “numerous customer complaints over water quality” is a direct, albeit qualitative, indicator of the population’s perception of water safety and service quality. A reduction in such complaints would indicate progress.

• Indicator for Target 9.1: Condition of physical infrastructure.

  The description of the facility being in “poor condition” with “failing and outdated equipment” serves as an indicator of the state of the water infrastructure. Progress could be measured by tracking the replacement and upgrading of this equipment as part of the mandated action plan.

• Indicator for Target 9.1 & 6.1: Adequacy of operational capacity and funding.

  The article mentions a “lack of employees” and the need for “seeking long-term funding” as key issues to be addressed. The number of qualified staff hired and the amount of funding secured for infrastructure improvements would be clear indicators of progress.

• Indicator for Target 3.9: Reported safety issues.

  The finding of “safety issues” at the facility is an indicator of potential health risks. The resolution of these specific issues, as verified by the Public Service Commission, would be a measure of progress towards ensuring public health.

4. Summary Table of SDGs, Targets, and Indicators

Source: wsaz.com