PRESS RELEASE
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Jefferson County Commission Appoints Water Advisory Committee and Advances Local Water Monitoring Efforts
CONTACT INFORMATION:
Edwina Benites, County Administrator
Phone: 304-728-3284
Email: ebenites@jeffersoncountywv.org
CHARLES TOWN, WV (June 13, 2025) – The Jefferson County Commission took several significant steps toward enhancing the County’s understanding and management of its water resources by appointing members to the newly reconstituted Jefferson County Commission Water Advisory Committee and hearing from state leaders and experts on water policy and monitoring. The Commission also tasked the committee with its first assignment: reviewing state well-monitoring legislation for possible adoption at the local level.
The newly appointed Water Advisory Committee includes representatives from:
- Jefferson County Engineering, Planning, and Zoning
- Jefferson County Health Department
- Charles Town Utility Board
The Commission also appointed Commissioner Mike Mood (Middleway District) to serve as its representative, as well as three citizen members:
- Mary Sell
- Margaret Liskey
- Than Hitt
“I’m excited to see the Water Advisory Committee reconstituted for the first time since COVID,” said citizen appointee Mary Sell. “There’s significant community interest in protecting and understanding our water resources, and this committee gives us a platform to listen, study, and advise.”
The Commission also welcomed a presentation from Dawn Newell, Water Use Program Manager with the WV Department of Environmental Protection’s Division of Water and Waste Management, and Erin Brittain from the Division of Land Restoration, Office of Environmental Remediation. The presentations offered critical insight into how state-level water monitoring and remediation programs operate and their potential intersection with local efforts.
Following these discussions, Senator Jason Barrett and Delegate Joe Funkhouser addressed the Commission to share background and context on recent well-monitoring legislation introduced in the West Virginia Legislature.
After hearing from WVDEP and the legislative representatives, the Commission voted to refer the 2025 well-monitoring legislation to the newly reconstituted Jefferson County Commission Water Advisory Committee for review and advisement.
“Jefferson County sits on uniquely sensitive karst terrain,” said Commission President Pasha Majdi. “This geography makes water quality and groundwater monitoring not just a technical issue—but a long-term priority for public health, development, and natural resource conservation.”
The Commission looks forward to engaging residents, scientists, and policymakers as the Jefferson County Commission Water Advisory Committee begins its work.
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