Charleston (WCHS) — The Kanawha County commission and Sen. Shelley Moore Capito, R-W.Va., met with community members on Friday to discuss an earmark for the ongoing Leatherwood water project.
Judy and Ed Newhouse of Leatherwood have been living without running water for nearly 52 years. They were present at the meeting and discussed their past hardships and excitement for the future.
"I'd like to have one good clean glass of water out of my spigot," Ed Newhouse said.
The Newhouse family, along with 126 other households in Leatherwood, will be able to enjoy pure running water after a 25-year initiative.
The $5 million project received support from Capito, the county commission and West Virginia American Water.
"It's hard to believe we need to take care of the basic need and water is a basic need," Capito said. "We're excited about this project."
This project is expected to be completed over the next few years, giving the Newhouse family and others a fresh start.