Why we need CTUB and not American Water
Charles Town Utility Board (CTUB) and West Virginia American Water (WVAW) are competing to serve water to new housing, commercial, and industrial developments in Ranson and the County. CTUB is better for the people, the environment, and the future of our county because it is a public surface water utility that answers to the rate payers and the people through the Freedom of Information Act and the Open Meetings act. WVAW is a for profit groundwater utility that answers to shareholders.
CTUB has taken a stand legally to protect its service area and rate payers but WVAW is fighting back to increase their service area and profits.
| Charles Town Utility Board (CTUB) | West Virginia American Water (WVAW) | |
| Water Source | Surface water | Groundwater |
| Type of Utility | Public | Private |
| Beholden to | Rate payers and public | Shareholders |
| Must follow Open Meetings Act | Yes | No |
| Must follow Freedom of Information Act | Yes | No |
| Rate for 3,000 gallons of water a month | $38.52 | $83.50 |
| How is expansion paid for | Growth pays for Growth – developers and future customers pay for service extension – keeping rates low | Current rate payers pay for service extensions through rate increases – leading to rate hikes |
The County is Working on the side of WVAW to undermine CTUB
In 2024 Summit Point Motor Sports Park (SPMS) informed Charles Town Utility Board (CTUB) that they needed Water and Sewer Service. At least one of the SPMS wells had gone dry and attempts to drill a new well were unsuccessful.
CTUB is the closest utility to SPMS (by far) and SPMS is within 20 miles of CTUB. This means SPMS is with the CTUB service area and therefore according to the requirements SPMS should seek service from CTUB. CTUB worked diligently to moving the project along including engineering studies and seeking funding.
In November of 2025 the County Commission insisted that CTUB was refusing to serve SPMS despite CTUB having voted multiple times to serve SPMS and help them find funding. For an unknown reason the County Commission voted to direct the Jefferson County Development Authority (JCDA) to work with WVAW to serve SPMS.
The JCC claimed that working with WVAW was necessary to utilize grant funding that was offered to the project by the state. Freedom of information act requests show that the state had not granted these funds. In fact, the grant application had not even been considered because it had been rejected on initial review.
JCC is choosing expediency for one commercial customer over protecting local natural resources and rate payers.
In spring of 2026 it was announced that Data Centers were planned right next to the SPMS. Data Centers can use massive amounts of water. It is critical that the data centers utilize surface water rather than groundwater. Extending water lines from WVAW to the Summit Point could potentially support zoning changes from Rural to Residential Growth or Rural Residential all along the route. This could massively speed up conversion of farmland to housing in a large part of the county. We need CTUB to serve the Summit Point area to conserve natural resources – groundwater and farmland.
WVAW also admitted in a JCDA meeting that it would raise rates on current customers to pay for the service extension to Summit Point. CTUB would work with the new users to obtain funding without placing the burden on current rate payers – keeping rates low.
In the last several months the company who owns the proposed data center property and CTUB have been working together to develop plans to extend water, sewer, and waste water reuse lines (purple line) to the summit point area.
Take Action: Tell the JCC to Reverse its Vote!
Please contact the County Commissioners: tell them to reverse the vote! Direct the JCDA to stop attempts to partner with WVAW and support CTUB! Please use the portal below and add a personal comment as to why this matters to you.