MATEWAN – Congressman Nick Rahall along with Huntington District Army Corps of Engineers Commander Col. Bob Peterson of the Army Corps of Engineers (COE), and Matewan Mayor Sheila Kessler signed an agreement Thursday to supply clean water to Thacker and to bring the Thacker Water Project closer to completion.

The Southern West Virginia Environmental Restoration, Infrastructure, and Resources Development Protection Pilot Program, otherwise known as the Water Resources Development Act of 1999, made this project possible. Rahall helped author the act.

The project will cost approximately 600,000 dollars and will be shared by both federal and local agencies and will consist of 35,000 feet of eight-inch water line, a booster pumping station, a 50,000-gallon water storage tank, 121-meter settings, and fire hydrants.

“When I look back on the last 33 years, it’s so heartwarming,” said Rahall, commenting on the 1977 flood and the years since. “We’ve made tremendous progress together and that’s what it has been: all of us working together.”

“Waste water systems are a critical part of our health and are important to our economic well-being in southern West Virginia,” continued Rahall. “It’s an example of your money, your tax dollars, coming back to work for you and I think that’s the most responsible way a government can operate.

“This is an important investment that will give back to the community many times over.”

Rahall also commented on the Corps.

“These individuals are truly dedicated to helping our people and it’s because of their engineering expertise, their professionalism, and their ability to put into effect on the ground what we often muddle through in Washington that they’re able to help the people directly.” Rahall said regarding Col. Peterson and Ken Woodward, project manager.

The project initially began in 2008 with 250,000 dollars from Central Appalachian Mining for seed money. Through grants and money from the Army COE, the total budget for the project is 2.2 million dollars and will provide 121 households in Thacker with water.