Would you trust your tap if your water system failed again and again?

From the headwaters in the Monongahela National Forest to the creeks that wind through our towns, water is sacred. Here in West Virginia, we’re home to some of the cleanest, most pristine streams in the nation — and some of the most distressed, in need of vigilant care.

This Drinking Water Week, we invite you to remember what is possible when we care for our waters at the source. Together, we can continue building the movement to protect and restore waters across the Mountain State.

At WV Rivers, we’ve seen firsthand how aging water systems and under-resourced Public Service Districts are struggling to provide safe, reliable drinking water. In too many communities, residents are living with boil-water advisories, frequent service disruptions, and little to no warning when things go wrong.

A recent study in Risk Analysis highlights what folks here know all too well: Communities in Southern WV face more water quality violations than anywhere else in the nation. We MUST do better.

PFAS contamination was found in 130 water systems; however, legislation passed this session could weaken stream protections, putting our drinking water at even greater risk. And for families relying on private wells — whether from petrochemicals, mining impacts, or fracking — boiling water won’t always help. In fact, when PFAS is present, boiling only makes it worse by concentrating the “forever chemicals” as water evaporates.

But we know: When people are equipped with science, tools, and community support, they become the driving force behind change, leading to cleaner streams, healthier ecosystems, and safe water for all.

This Drinking Water Week, I’m asking you to join us as one of our most valued contributors, someone we can count on to protect clean water not just today, but year-round.

Becoming a WV Rivers Paddling Partner is as simple as initiating a recurring gift — whether $5, $10, $25, or any amount that is meaningful for you. Your monthly contribution helps us:

• Support volunteers leading monitoring projects throughout the state
• Educate communities on the need for clean water protections
• Holds polluters accountable for contamination
• Provide decision-makers with trusted, science-backed data.

But to do all this — for this generation and the next — we need you with us.