Little Lefthand Road water system planned, but Pine Grove faces delays

AMMA, W.Va. (WCHS) — Washing clothes is something many people never have a second thought about.

For William Looney and others who live on Pine Grove Road in Amma, doing laundry at home isn’t an option. With the well water many use resulting in discolored water, several purchase water at the store to drink and cook with.

Looney and others voiced their concerns to the Clay Roane Public Service District on Thursday.

“Actually we don’t use a lot of well water,” Looney said. “We wash our clothes at a laundromat. We don’t wash our clothes at home.”

The Clay Roane PSD has searched for years to find a solution and bring city water to their neighbors on Pine Grove. However, General Manager Crystal Adkins said the company they use for funding is not willing to give up the money required for so few people.

“We got six miles and 20 people in it,” Adkins said. “So they’re going to have to pay hundreds or thousands of dollars for their water when it’s in Charleston, they’re not going to pay 20 cents. It’s just being out in the rural area. It’s just a nightmare.”

Pine Grove is not the only place in the area in need of clean water. People who call Little Lefthand Road home, like Rick Rucker, said the water coming out of their wells is terrible, with some water coming out far from clear.

“Destroys your appliances,” Rucker said. “The iron water, it messes with your washing machine, your white clothes, you’re constantly cleaning the tubs, the commodes and stuff like that. It’s just terrible on everything.”

Little Lefthand Road is getting relief sooner than Pine Grove, with plans in the works for construction to start on a water system for the area set for 2027.