Bonnie Cranmer
Contributing writer
The water and sewer systems serving the businesses and residents in New Castle will experience some changes in 2025. The Craig-New Castle Public Service Authority (PSA) has contracted with the Western Virginia Water Authority (WVWA) to assume responsibility for the billing and operations of the systems beginning Feb. 1. The notice to customers will be sent on Jan. 1.
The western part of Virginia has been experiencing water challenges related to weather with the drought and faces ongoing issues with aging infrastructure. The local PSA has partnered with the regional WVWA to provide “better, more reliable service and could ultimately lead to cost savings in the operation of the PSA,” states the notice to be released in the coming weeks.
The operations and plant maintenance will be managed by the WVWA, bringing their experience to the New Castle utility. All current staff, except for the PSA Administrator, will transition to the WVWA team. The billing system will be improved, making it easier to manage accounts. Customer service will be provided Monday – Friday 8 a.m. – 5 p.m. for inquiries and 24/7/365 for emergency services. The WVWA established policies and procedures will be adopted and communicated to customers clearly in the coming weeks.
The Executive Board of the PSA has led the process to improve the water and sewer service in Craig County with the WVWA. While there may be questions, the PSA is making the transition transparent with an informational Town Hall. The meeting will be held Jan. 9 at 6 p.m. at the Craig County High School cafeteria. Both the local PSA staff members customers are currently working with and the WVWA staff will be available to answer questions. Watch for further details in the coming weeks.
