Putnam commissioners approve letter backing alternative Kanawha River intake for water district

Putnam County commissioners voted Feb. 10 to approve a letter of support for the Putnam Public Service District’s bid to secure grant funding to construct an alternative raw water intake on the Kanawha River.

James Evers, speaking for Putnam P.S.D., told the commission the intake would provide an alternative source if the district’s primary intake becomes contaminated. “This project, Putnam P.S.D., is wanting to put an alternative raw water intake in on the Kanawha River,” Evers said, citing recent vandalism that released oil into a source-water supply elsewhere and recalling the statewide drought in 2024 and the 2014 Freedom Industries spill as reasons for redundancy.

Evers said the intake would allow Putnam to pump water from the Kanawha to the county reservoir at Lark and make the system more drought-resistant, and that the district would pursue grant funding so customers would bear less of the cost. Commissioner Ellis moved to approve the letter; Commissioner Pearson seconded the motion, which passed by voice vote. County staff member Melissa was instructed to provide the signed letter to Evers.

Why it matters: County officials said the intake would reduce vulnerability to contamination events (for example, derailments or spills) and improve resilience in future droughts. The approved letter is intended to strengthen the district’s grant applications but does not itself commit county funds or authorize construction.

The commission did not set a timeline for the funding application; the vote covered only the requested letter of support.