RCAP Voices

When Glen Dale, West Virginia discovered PFAS, or "forever chemicals," in its drinking water, a small-town community found itself facing one of the most complex challenges in modern water infrastructure. Their story offers a look at the difficult decisions, partnerships, and persistence required when emerging contaminants threaten a community's water supply.

Featured people in this story

• Janet Scott, Mayor of Glen Dale

• Tim Beaver, Water Superintendent, Glen Dale Water Works

• Russel Niehaus, Glen Dale City Council Member

• Meredith Vance, West Virginia Department of Health, Drinking Water Program

• Kris Ward, Technical Assistance Provider, Great Lakes Community Action Partnership

Learn more

• Working with Communities on Decisions for Innovative Treatment Technologies: https://storymaps.arcgis.com/stories/c6d6c970187d4b38ba7b1d46f36ba34f

• Rural Community Assistance Partnership: https://rcap.org

• Great Lakes Community Action Partnership: https://glcap.org

This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit rcapvoices.substack.com

Show notes: The Water We Take for Granted

A Pennsylvania family, a broken cistern, a corrosive spring, and a surprising partnership of a foundation, a spirits brand, a water technology company, a local driller, and a technical assistance provider. Amy Forsha of RCAP Solutions also shares her own family’s well-or-public-water dilemma. Over 23 million U.S. households rely on private wells that no federal law requires anyone to test. The takeaway? Take charge and test your well every year.

Featured Quotes in this story

• The Lewis family, Pennsylvania

• Amy Forsha, Pennsylvania State Manager, RCAP Solutions (RSOL)

Learn more

• RCAP Private Well Program

• Rural Community Assistance Partnership

• RCAP Solutions

• Resources

This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit rcapvoices.substack.com

This is RCAP Voices, the semi-monthly podcast dedicated to sharing stories of positive change from rural communities across the country. Through Rural Community Assistance Partnership’s Network, more than 350 technical assistance providers work directly with small communities and tribes building long term trusted relationships in thousands of communities across our country. From drinking water to wastewater, from solid waste to broadband, housing and community development financing, RCAP’s partners are there on the ground helping people build a bridge to solutions for aging infrastructure. It’s a unique model; meeting people where they are, helping them do what they can with what they’ve got, and connecting them with resources they didn’t know they had. Subscribe to this ad-free, zero-cost podcast today and keep abreast of the good news happening across the United States its territories and Tribal land. Launching October 15th, 2026!

To learn more about Rural Community Assistance Partnership and its programs go to RCAP.ORG

This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit rcapvoices.substack.com