by Mike McNulty
From the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, there have been three primary messages: Wear a mask, social distance and wash your hands. This last part is especially pertinent in that without safe, clean water, public health suffers. Likewise, responding to a health crisis — let alone to a pandemic — is nearly impossible without clean water.
Pure water is something we all need yet is one thing we in the Morgantown area so often take for granted. Turn on a faucet and it’s readily available. Flush a toilet and waste is properly conveyed and treated. It happens almost naturally, which is a testimony to the skill and professionalism of the staff at the Morgantown Utility Board.
Every moment of every day our staff works diligently to ensure safe water remains available. We monitor water quality, we train and maintain a dedicated staff, we conduct distribution system maintenance and we work toward protecting our raw water resources through wastewater treatment and stormwater management. It’s an intricate ballet of science, engineering and technology, all wonderfully orchestrated by our best-in-industry staff.
But now we’re seeking the public’s participation to help continue the protection of the sources of our drinking water through our new Watershed Protection Program (WPP). This effort is designed to protect water quality by preserving land around the Monongahela River and Cobun Creek through voluntary landowner protections.
Those protections may include conservation easements, deed restrictions and other land preservation practices. These volunteer measures will help keep forests, wetlands and open fields intact so they can absorb rain runoff, trap sediment and capture pollutants before they enter our local waterways. They also limit future development in proximity to our water sources in order to keep our watersheds healthy in the long-term.
We also are looking for members of the general public to become involved. MUB customers are encouraged to enroll in our Round-Up Program whereby bills are rounded up to the nearest dollar. The difference goes directly to support the WPP.
MUB customers can likewise enroll in our monthly contribution program. The amount given will be automatically added to their MUB bill. Of course, anyone can support the program through a one-time contribution online at protectmonsourcewater.org/donate.
In addition, we’re very excited to now make available customer service line warranties through our partner HomeServe. One hundred percent of MUB’s portion of all proceeds from this program go directly to support the WPP. It’s a win-win for MUB customers who receive warranties against repairs that can easily run into the thousands of dollars while simultaneously helping to protect the water they rely on every day. Those interested can visit slwofa.com for more details.
Our Watershed Protection Program, a partnership between MUB, Downstream Strategies and The West Virginia Land Trust, is the first of its kind in West Virginia. To learn more please visit protectmonsourcewater.org.
And please remember that, if you see someone polluting our local waterways or spot a possible contaminant in one of our waterways, you can contact MUB 24 hours a day at 304-292-8443. Only by working together can we ensure safe, clean water remains available now and for generations to come.
Mike McNulty is the general manager of the Morgantown Utility Board.
