The Kentucky Infrastructure Authority (KIA) awarded its latest clean water grants to several cities for important water and sewer projects. The cities of Fleming-Neon, Jenkins, Nicholasville, and Wilmore will receive additional funds through the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) for water and wastewater projects. The 2021 General Assembly allocated a portion of the state’s total amount for these types of projects.
On January 17, Governor Andy Beshear announced that the Jenkins wastewater plant would receive $79,155 to repair locations with heavy inflow and infiltration concentrations and to study the system’s future needs. That same day, the City of Fleming-Neon received $15,831 to improve performance at the wastewater treatment plant and reduce sewer flow during heavy rain. The project included flow monitoring at up to five locations, manhole inspections, smoke tests, repairing manhole castings, and developing a working map of the sewer system suitable for a flow study and construction.
On Tuesday, Wilmore received $300,430 to inspect and repair the city’s wastewater collection lines to reduce the infiltration of stormwater and groundwater into the wastewater treatment plant, a recurring issue during heavy rain. The City of Nicholasville received $858,000 to address infiltration and overflows within its sanitary sewer collection system. The city will document the condition of the existing infrastructure, evaluate the data, and identify and prioritize system improvement projects to address any deficiencies.
“The City of Nicholasville is very appreciative of these grant funds; we will put them to good use in upgrading our infrastructure to keep our waters clean,” said Nicholasville Mayor Pete Sutherland.
On Friday, Governor Beshear announced more awards in five western Kentucky cities.
KIA awarded $1,201,272 to replace approximately 30,000 feet of aged, deteriorating water lines in Paducah, including valves, hydrants, meters, and service lines. The project will help eliminate breaks, improve water quality and water pressure, and replace water mains that are critical to the daily operation of the Baptist Health medical complex.
The City of Benton received $571,090 to rehabilitate three existing, aged lift stations and improve electrical control at five sites. The project will also help the city address sanitary sewer system overflows and remove pollutants at the wastewater treatment plant. “We are thankful to have been awarded these funds to make improvements to our wastewater system,” said KLC Executive Board Member and Benton Mayor Rita Dotson.
KIA granted the City of Hardin $571,090 to improve its wastewater treatment system and $100,507 to the cities of Eddyville and Kuttawa. Eddyville will use the funds to construct, replace, or refurbish sewer lines, repair 195 manholes, and reduce inflow and infiltration points at the city’s sewer collection system. Kuttawa’s grant includes funds to evaluate and inspect approximately 120 manholes, 24,000 linear feet of sewer main, and 235 laterals. The city will also fund designs for the rehabilitation or replacement of sewers and construction or replacement of sewer lines, cured-in-place pipe lining, and manhole rehabilitation.
The Kentucky General Assembly allocated $250 million from the ARPA State Fiscal Recovery Fund for drinking water and wastewater during the final day of the 2021 General Assembly. The current House budget proposal allocates another $350 million for similar projects.
