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Lumberport council told town water system is out of compliance; upgrades and backflow ordinance recommended
Summary
Quality Water told the Lumberport Town Council on Sept. 9 that a 120‑day sanitary finding from the health department shows the town is currently out of compliance with backflow-prevention rules and recommended system-wide upgrades and a backflow ordinance; the council approved the water-and-sewer report and pressed the utility for earlier notice.
Quality Water representatives Stephanie and Allen Westfall told the Lumberport Town Council on Sept. 9 that a 120‑day sanitary finding from the county health department shows the town is currently out of compliance with state backflow‑prevention requirements and will require system upgrades and a local backflow ordinance.
Town Attorney Trey Simmerman pressed the utility on timing and communication, saying there had been "no communication or warning to the council" about the scope and cost of the work. Quality Water staff told the council the company had documented relations with the health department dating back several years and said a previous mayor had refused to act on the backflow issue, leaving the town in its present condition.
The utility reported that recent water samples showed no active contamination, but that drought conditions, reservoir levels and elevated magnesium in source water are complicating treatment and dosing. The presenters described operational work under way—hydrant flushing, pump checks and sludge‑pond maintenance—but said the sanitary finding and state rules require upgrades and a backflow prevention plan. They recommended that the council pass a backflow ordinance at the next meeting and consider upgrades that state guidance indicates should be done broadly rather than piecemeal.
Mayor Lexie Mayfield read an email from Ryan Holcomb about meter readings and billing anomalies tied to recent meter replacements. The mayor then asked the council to approve the water‑and‑sewer report; the motion (mover: Michael Stire; second: Tom Exline) passed 5–0.
What the council will do next: Quality Water indicated the town must prepare for capital work and ordinance changes required under West Virginia rules; the council directed staff to pursue an ordinance and follow up on the utility's recommendations. The town attorney's questioning signaled council interest in clearer advance notice from the utility about future compliance problems and costs.
The presentation and questions appeared in the council's agenda under the Water and Sewer Report; council action to approve the report was recorded in the minutes as approved by majority vote.
