West Virginia American Water Invests $1.6M in South Charleston Infrastructure

The water utility company is funding a multi-phase project to replace aging water mains in the Armour View area.

Apr. 10, 2026 at 12:54am

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A high-end, photorealistic studio still-life photograph featuring a polished, chrome water valve and a section of gleaming copper pipe arranged elegantly on a clean, monochromatic background, conceptually representing the investment in water infrastructure.A gleaming water valve and copper pipe symbolize the critical infrastructure upgrades West Virginia American Water is funding in South Charleston.South Charleston Today

West Virginia American Water has announced a $1.6 million investment for infrastructure upgrades in South Charleston, West Virginia. The first phase of the project will install a new 1,800-foot, 8-inch water main line on Lincoln Drive and replace 820 feet of aging 6-inch pipe on Chestnut Street. The company says this work is crucial for continued development and to improve water service reliability in the community.

Why it matters

Aging water infrastructure is a common challenge for many municipalities, leading to disruptive main breaks and water service issues. This investment by West Virginia American Water demonstrates the company's commitment to upgrading critical systems and collaborating with local leaders to address customer concerns about water reliability in the Armour View and Rock Lake Village neighborhoods.

The details

The first phase of the project includes installing a new 1,800-foot, 8-inch water main line on Lincoln Drive from Rock Lake Presbyterian Church to Chestnut Street, as well as replacing 820 feet of aging 6-inch pipe on Chestnut Street from Lincoln Drive to Upton Drive. Work is expected to begin on April 13 and be completed by mid-August. Additional phases of the infrastructure upgrades will be announced as the project progresses.

  • The first phase of the project will begin on April 13, 2026.
  • The work on Lincoln Drive is expected to be completed by mid-August 2026.
  • The Chestnut Street portion of the project is set to begin in early May 2026 and be finished by mid-July 2026.

The players

West Virginia American Water

A water utility company that provides water and wastewater services to communities across West Virginia.

Frank Mullens

The Mayor of South Charleston, West Virginia.

Scott Wyman

The President of West Virginia American Water.

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What they’re saying

“We are committed to continued infrastructure investment in our community systems. We appreciate our partnership with the City of South Charleston and are closely coordinating with Mayor Frank Mullens as we create more resilient infrastructure for these communities.”

— Scott Wyman, President of West Virginia American Water

“I appreciate the strong collaboration between the city and West Virginia American Water as we work together to address customer concerns in the Armor View and Rock Lake Village neighborhoods. West Virginia American Water has demonstrated a clear commitment to investing in critical water main infrastructure upgrades that will help improve reliability for residents and demonstrate an important step forward for our community.”

— Frank Mullens, Mayor, City of South Charleston

What’s next

Additional phases of the infrastructure upgrade project in South Charleston will be announced as the work progresses.

The takeaway

This investment by West Virginia American Water highlights the ongoing need for municipalities to address aging water infrastructure, which can lead to service disruptions and reliability issues for residents. The collaborative approach between the utility and local government demonstrates how public-private partnerships can help communities modernize critical systems and support future economic development.