CHARLESTON, W.Va. -- Time has run out for Pratt officials to save their ailing sewer system.

So prophesied officials for the West Virginia Public Service Commission, Division of Environmental Protection and the Kanawha County Commission at a regular meeting of the County Commission on Thursday.

All told Pratt Mayor Joe Douglas that the sewer system's sole salvation is an immediate and hefty increase in sewer rates and a merger with the Chelyan Public Service District.

DEP inspector Richard Hackney and PSC engineer Jim Weimer told Douglas and County Commissioners Kent Carper and Dave Hardy that Pratt's sewer system is in such bad shape that there almost is no way town officials can salvage the system on their own. Pratt has been operating the sewer plant since last year with no qualified operator, in violation of a DEP order, and Hackney said the sewer system continues to dump raw sewage into the environment.

"It's 2009," Hackney said. "This sewer system in Pratt is going to have to come up to contemporary standards. That's the bottom line."

Town officials had been in a long-running feud between former Pratt Mayor Ann Neese, members of the Upper Kanawha Valley Public Service District and Chelyan over merging the sewer system. Although Carper, Hardy and other officials agree that much progress has been made since Neese resigned and Douglas took over, they fear Pratt officials will continue to fight merger plans.

Wayne Campbell, head of Pratt's water board, said the town's water and sewer systems have improved dramatically since he took over last fall. Campbell argued repeatedly that, given more time and money, the systems would be fine.

Carper and Hardy acknowledged the strides made since Campbell took over, but said it was just too little, too late. Even Hardy, who repeatedly has stood up for Pratt officials, told Campbell and Douglas that a merger is inevitable.

"It's painfully apparent that you cannot continue on your own," Hardy said. He said the only way county officials were willing to help Pratt was if town officials agreed to merge their sewer system. "Otherwise, we're just throwing money in a bathtub and watching it go down the drain," he said.

A merger with Chelyan would have to be approved by Pratt voters. Residents will see their sewer and water rates go up whether Pratt merges or not. State and county officials believe it would cost so much money to hire a full-time sewer operator and fix the problems with the sewer system that Pratt would be unable to afford the bill on its own.

Carper and Hardy said it would be up to Douglas and Campbell to get the people of Pratt to vote for the merger. "You have to convince people it's in their best interest to vote for it," Hardy said.

A merger would be better and cheaper in the long run, state and county officials said.

Reach Rusty Marks at rustyma...@wvgazette.com or 304-348-1215.

CHARLESTON, W.Va. -- Time has run out for Pratt officials to save their ailing sewer system.

So prophesied officials for the West Virginia Public Service Commission, Division of Environmental Protection and the Kanawha County Commission at a regular meeting of the County Commission on Thursday.

All told Pratt Mayor Joe Douglas that the sewer system's sole salvation is an immediate and hefty increase in sewer rates and a merger with the Chelyan Public Service District.

DEP inspector Richard Hackney and PSC engineer Jim Weimer told Douglas and County Commissioners Kent Carper and Dave Hardy that Pratt's sewer system is in such bad shape that there almost is no way town officials can salvage the system on their own. Pratt has been operating the sewer plant since last year with no qualified operator, in violation of a DEP order, and Hackney said the sewer system continues to dump raw sewage into the environment.

"It's 2009," Hackney said. "This sewer system in Pratt is going to have to come up to contemporary standards. That's the bottom line."

Town officials had been in a long-running feud between former Pratt Mayor Ann Neese, members of the Upper Kanawha Valley Public Service District and Chelyan over merging the sewer system. Although Carper, Hardy and other officials agree that much progress has been made since Neese resigned and Douglas took over, they fear Pratt officials will continue to fight merger plans.

Wayne Campbell, head of Pratt's water board, said the town's water and sewer systems have improved dramatically since he took over last fall. Campbell argued repeatedly that, given more time and money, the systems would be fine.

Carper and Hardy acknowledged the strides made since Campbell took over, but said it was just too little, too late. Even Hardy, who repeatedly has stood up for Pratt officials, told Campbell and Douglas that a merger is inevitable.

"It's painfully apparent that you cannot continue on your own," Hardy said. He said the only way county officials were willing to help Pratt was if town officials agreed to merge their sewer system. "Otherwise, we're just throwing money in a bathtub and watching it go down the drain," he said.

A merger with Chelyan would have to be approved by Pratt voters. Residents will see their sewer and water rates go up whether Pratt merges or not. State and county officials believe it would cost so much money to hire a full-time sewer operator and fix the problems with the sewer system that Pratt would be unable to afford the bill on its own.

Carper and Hardy said it would be up to Douglas and Campbell to get the people of Pratt to vote for the merger. "You have to convince people it's in their best interest to vote for it," Hardy said.

A merger would be better and cheaper in the long run, state and county officials said.

Reach Rusty Marks at rustyma...@wvgazette.com or 304-348-1215.