West Virginia American Water filters daily spill reports to protect Kanawha County taps

West Virginia American Water receives over 100 spill reports every day. The utility’s primary goal is to stop those spills from contaminating the water supplied to customers in Kanawha County and other service areas.

The company relies on a continuous stream of data to manage this volume. Operators access raw water information that is monitored around the clock. This constant feed allows staff to watch for changes in water quality as they happen.

Nick Kevey, the senior manager for source water protection, explained that the utility works directly with the Department of Environmental Protection. The DEP sends spill reports to seven surface water treatment plants in real time. Kevey described these reports as a preemptive strike. The aim is to prevent any impact on the plants before the water arrives.

West Virginia holds one of the few state-level source water protection regulations in the nation. The rules require utilities to have a plan in place before a spill occurs. To test these plans, the company conducts tabletop exercises. Staff members walk through hypothetical spill scenarios to practice their response protocols.

Kevey stated that the company focuses on keeping water safe and reliable for consumers. He said being proactive allows the utility to better support its customers. The combination of live monitoring and state regulations forms the core of their defense strategy.