Utility Interconnection Study
Regions I & IV Planning and Development Councils
Proactive Planning for More Resilient Water and Sewer Utilities
West Virginia has faced storms of increasing frequency and intensity in recent years. These incidents create unparalleled devastation, which is only compounded by inevitable infrastructure damage. The Region I and Region IV Planning and Development Councils (RPDCs) aimed to reduce those impacts by finding the most feasible ways to create more resilient utilities through a comprehensive study.
The Challenge: Examine 100+ water and sewer systems across an 11-county region to determine potential interconnection points in a 3-month timeframe.
The RPDCs received a Community Development Block Grant – Disaster Recovery (CDBG-DR) from the United States Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD). This federal funding was crucial in making the study happen but meant it had to happen fast, as there were just three months to work with between The Thrasher Group being awarded the project and the funding’s expiration date.
In that time, Thrasher’s Water Resources team had to tackle an immense amount of work:
- Identify all public utility providers in the area
- Select separate evaluation criteria for water and sewer systems
- Compile existing system data
- Collect additional data as needed
- Create a comprehensive GIS map of each system
- Develop interconnection scenarios where feasible
- Create cost estimates for each identified scenario
- Produce a comprehensive report outlining the results
100+
Water Systems
11
County Region
3
Month Timeframe
Results: Delivering a Regional Utility Interconnection Study
The Outcome: A 375-page report created with detailed system breakdowns and associated mapping for 112 utilities across 82 entities, with 148 potential connection possibilities.
Replicating the tried and true approach the Thrasher team took on the Regional Optical Communications (ROC) WV Statewide Broadband Study, the resulting document was completed on time and provided three valuable assets:
- A comprehensive look at each individual utility in these regions
- Clear, detailed possibilities for feasible projects
- A roadmap for future funding applications to move actionable projects forward
Next Steps: Funding, Facilities, and Housing
The study is the first step in a longer process. The system mapping, interconnection scenarios, and cost estimates give both RPDCs a foundation for future construction projects across the 11-county region. The data shows where systems have deficiencies, where there is room for growth, and where added redundancy would keep service running after a storm.
Because preliminary layouts and cost estimates are already complete, the RPDCs can submit projects for grant funding as opportunities arise, even on short deadlines.
Phase 2 – Critical Facilities and Housing Capacity
With additional CDBG funding secured, the RPDCs asked Thrasher to extend the study in three directions:
- Critical facilities – Evaluating whether hospitals, schools, EMS buildings, and other essential facilities have enough utility capacity and redundancy to stay operational during a disaster.
- Housing capacity – Identifying which areas can support new housing developments with their existing utilities, and what upgrades would be needed to accommodate planned and potential growth.
- Results communication – Creating an Esri StoryMap that summarizes the study’s key findings for stakeholders, community leaders, and potential funding partners.
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