St. Albans mayor details phased $90 million water and sewer upgrade, says rate increases and grants will fund work
June 16, 2026 | St. Albans, Kanawha County, West Virginia
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Mayor Scott James outlined the City of St. Albans' planned multi-year water and sewer upgrade program during the city podcast, saying the work will be done in phases and funded through a mix of rate increases, grants and low-interest loans.
"It's a right around a $90 million project, give or take a few million," Mayor Scott James said, adding that the city rejected an offer to sell the system to West Virginia American Water and instead chose phased investment to preserve local control and long-term savings.
Why it matters: The upgrades are intended to prevent system failure, maintain high water quality, and keep the city eligible for grant and loan programs whose terms depend on a community's utility rates relative to median household income.
Key details: James said one treatment plant is "over 100 years old" and described incremental work that includes a required lead-and-copper survey (the city has funding to complete this), replacement of aging meters (estimated at about $2 million), targeted water-line replacements in high-leak locations such as Poplar Drive and Grant Avenue, and pump-station upgrades or replacements (one station estimated at $800,000–$1 million). He also confirmed the city received FEMA assistance to procure a generator valued at about $650,000 to maintain plant operations during outages.
Timing and costs: City officials described a five- to eight-year implementation horizon. The mayor said the first rate increase takes effect July 16, with phased increases continuing through 2030; he projected that by 2031 typical St. Albans rates would be lower than current West Virginia American Water rates. He emphasized that some grant and loan eligibility depends on the city's rate-to-median-income calculations.
What wasn't decided or specified: Exact contract awards, detailed schedules for every project segment, and a final funding breakdown by grant, loan and rate revenue were not provided in the podcast.
Next steps: The mayor said the city will finish the lead-and-copper survey, begin prioritized meter and line replacements, and provide public updates on the city's website and at council meetings.
"It's a right around a $90 million project, give or take a few million," Mayor Scott James said, adding that the city rejected an offer to sell the system to West Virginia American Water and instead chose phased investment to preserve local control and long-term savings.
Why it matters: The upgrades are intended to prevent system failure, maintain high water quality, and keep the city eligible for grant and loan programs whose terms depend on a community's utility rates relative to median household income.
Key details: James said one treatment plant is "over 100 years old" and described incremental work that includes a required lead-and-copper survey (the city has funding to complete this), replacement of aging meters (estimated at about $2 million), targeted water-line replacements in high-leak locations such as Poplar Drive and Grant Avenue, and pump-station upgrades or replacements (one station estimated at $800,000–$1 million). He also confirmed the city received FEMA assistance to procure a generator valued at about $650,000 to maintain plant operations during outages.
Timing and costs: City officials described a five- to eight-year implementation horizon. The mayor said the first rate increase takes effect July 16, with phased increases continuing through 2030; he projected that by 2031 typical St. Albans rates would be lower than current West Virginia American Water rates. He emphasized that some grant and loan eligibility depends on the city's rate-to-median-income calculations.
What wasn't decided or specified: Exact contract awards, detailed schedules for every project segment, and a final funding breakdown by grant, loan and rate revenue were not provided in the podcast.
Next steps: The mayor said the city will finish the lead-and-copper survey, begin prioritized meter and line replacements, and provide public updates on the city's website and at council meetings.
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