| It will come as little surprise the State of West Virginia is only one of two eastern USA states that lacks any sort of water use law.
Chemical plants and other big water users are backing a legislative proposal that would require them to register with the state and report the volume of water they use.
An interim meeting of lawmakers learned yesterday that industry support falls short of a proposal that would actually mandate permits for major uses or set a fee.
West Virginia's largest commercial water company has been sold to European interests, even though water is one of the state's biggest natural resources.
A legislative subcommittee is drafting a bill that would begin to regulate the use and trafficking of the state's water, supposedly in and out of state.
The draft bill would require registration for those who use an average of 100,000 thousand gallons or more per day, exempting farmers.
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