Kentucky governor commits $280 million in funding for clean water projects
FRANKFORT, Ky. (UC) —Gov. Andy Beshear announced $30 million in funding to support 29 projects that will provide clean drinking water and improve water systems for 1,245 households across the commonwealth, the governor said on July 21.
“Having clean, reliable water service is a basic human right, and from the start of my administration I have prioritized funding major upgrades to these crucial utilities all across the commonwealth,” Gov. Beshear said.
Gov. Beshear also announced an additional $250 million in funding for his Cleaner Water Program and asked local utilities to submit projects for the second round of funding.
“These funds build on the $250 million appropriated last year to deliver quality, clean drinking water to Kentuckians and maintain our sewer systems,” Gov. Beshear said. “Investing in our water infrastructure is a fundamental way we are building a better Kentucky by improving the wellbeing of our people while we fuel our record-breaking economic momentum.”
The Cleaner Water Program is part of Gov. Beshear’s Better Kentucky Plan, which is creating 14,500 jobs and helping to build better schools, expand access to high-speed internet, improve infrastructure and deliver clean drinking water and quality sewer systems across Kentucky.
The Governor also announced that an additional $250 million from his Cleaner Water Program is now available for local utilities to submit projects for a second round of funding.
New Projects Announced
Twenty-nine recently approved projects are funded by the American Rescue Plan Act and administered by the Kentucky Infrastructure Authority (KIA). An initial $250 million was appropriated through a bipartisan agreement at the close of the 2021 General Assembly for clean drinking water and wastewater grants to fund projects across Kentucky. New projects approved for funding from the Cleaner Water Program include:
Breathitt County: $3.3 million for the Breathitt County Water District to extend a waterline, providing service to 86 households. The project will also construct a 100,000-gallon water storage tank, a 20,000-gallon water storage tank and one pump station.
Campbell County: $1 million to the Northern Kentucky Water District to extend a waterline 3.8 miles to serve 56 households in rural areas.
Christian County: $2,036,451 for the Christian County Water District to extend waterlines along 39 rural roadways to provide water to unserved and underserved residences. In addition, a new pump station will be constructed to assist with filling a water tank in the Crofton area.
Floyd County: $1,909,717 for the Southern Water & Sewer District to construct a 200,000-gallon water storage tank, booster pumping station, pressure reducer vault, solenoid vault and 19,000 linear feet of waterline.
Morgan County: $2,988,000 for the Morgan County Water District to construct 39,000 feet of waterline, two pump stations, one new 150,000-gallon water tank and a 9,000-gallon tank.
Kenton County: $1 million to the Northern Kentucky Water District to construct 5 miles of waterline extension to serve 81 households in predominately rural areas.
Pendleton County: $915,000 to the East Pendleton Water District to extend waterlines to unserved Wagners Ferry and Marquette Roads.
Additional Cleaner Water Program Funding
Starting July 21, water resource coordinators, representing Kentucky’s 15 Area Development Districts (ADDs) and Area Water Management Councils, may submit project profiles through the Water Resource Information System (WRIS) portal to indicate interest in funding from the Cleaner Water Program. Eligible government agencies, such as city-owned water or sewer utilities, water commissions, water and sewer districts and water associations, may collaborate with a coordinator and council to submit a project. There are 713 public drinking water and wastewater utilities in Kentucky.
The application process will be ongoing throughout 2022 until all funding is committed. KIA will begin reviewing projects this summer and make awards continuously throughout the year. All grant awardees must obligate the funds by December 31, 2024.
Cleaner Water Program
Funded by the American Rescue Plan Act and administered by the Kentucky Infrastructure Authority, $500 million has been appropriated through a bipartisan agreement with the General Assembly to provide clean drinking water and wastewater grants to fund projects across Kentucky since 2021. The 2022 funding will be allocated based on each county’s proportion of the state’s population, with the exception of Jefferson County’s share, which is discounted by 50% based on its high per capita allocation from the federal act.
The American Society of Civil Engineers in 2019 projected that Kentucky faces nearly $14.5 billion in water/wastewater infrastructure needs over the next 20 years, including over $8.2 billion in drinking water upgrades and $6.2 billion in sewer system improvements.
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