2026-07-15 Jefferson County Water Advisory Committee Meeting

The Jefferson County Water Advisory Committee meeting, listed as July 15, 2026 (recording metadata: July 16), featured a USGS hydrogeologist’s presentation on prior groundwater studies in Jefferson and neighboring counties, including water quality, aquifer vulnerability, groundwater flow, and water availability. A public commenter from the Jefferson County Foundation questioned the County Commission’s consideration of requiring hydrogeological studies in limited circumstances related to groundwater extraction and land development. No procurement actions, contract awards, purchases, or spending approvals were identified. The committee did not take action on the studies or funding discussed; a motion to adjourn was made, but the transcript does not record the vote outcome.

The presenter described a proposed regional groundwater-modeling effort: West Virginia DEP was interested in funding, but available funds were a constraint; USGS might contribute roughly 20–30%, and past studies have sometimes used a three-way funding arrangement with state and county partners. He also reported that USGS had recently submitted a proposal to EPA to update an existing Upper Potomac River Basin model for groundwater travel times and nutrient management, with potential future county or regional modeling. These were prospective funding and research discussions, not approved awards or committee spending decisions.