Thirteen more cities will begin important infrastructure projects after the latest round of Cleaner Water Program Grants. During the 2021 session, the General Assembly allocated $250 million of the state’s American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funds to local water projects. The Kentucky Infrastructure Authority (KIA) continues to announce grant awardees who must obligate the funds by December 31, 2024.

“This grant provides an incredible opportunity for our community,” said Morehead Mayor and KLC Board member Laura White-Brown. “With these funds, we will be able to expand our capacity and continue to improve the quality of lives in our community and region.”

The Morehead Utility Plant Board received $406,319 to remove approximately 6,000 feet of waterline dating to the 1930s. The project will ensure compliance with the Environmental Protection Agency’s Lead and Copper Rule by removing portions of the distribution system that contain lead parts and materials, ensuring the health and safety of customers.

Berea Mayor and KLC Board Member Bruce Fraley learned that his city received a $588,571 grant. “For the past several years, our city has been designing infrastructure improvements at our primary municipal water source, Owsley Fork Reservoir, and this funding will help us ensure that we are able to fund all of the improvements needed to maintain the high quality of our water,” he said. “We hope to go into the construction phase with the infrastructure upgrades later this year, so this grant could not have come at a better time.”

The Berea project will repair sanitary sewers, replace, and rehabilitate manholes, repair points, and replace sewer pipes.

West Liberty received three grants:

• $121,895 to replace aging sanitary sewer lines and inspect manholes and sewer lines.
• $121,892 to replace a problematic sewage line and manholes.
• $245,000 to construct a new 47,000-gallon water storage tank.

Other improvements include a new pump station, waterlines, hydrants, and meters.

“The City of West Liberty, like many municipalities in Kentucky, has aging water and wastewater infrastructure,” said West Liberty Mayor and KLC Board of Directors member Mark Walter. “These grants will assist in the improvements to these infrastructures. I appreciate the Gateway ADD in assisting with the application process.

“The Cleaner Water Program has made it possible to improve services to our customers and to help with future economic development projects. I appreciate Governor Beshear’s leadership and passion with the Cleaner Water Program project.”

Other Cleaner Water Program Grants announced this week include:

• $167,607 to the City of Burgin to relocate fire hydrants to make them more accessible to firetrucks.
• $91,150 for the City of Frenchburg to provide potable drinking water and install new water mains.
• $1.6 million to the Glasgow Water and Sewer Commission to complete phase five of a six-phase project to construct a transmission line from the water treatment plant at Barren River Lake to a proposed water tank site.
• $215,165 to the City of Harrodsburg to rehabilitate equipment at three pumping stations, realign sewers, and replace a waterline and hydrants.
• $129,262 for the City of Jeffersonville to replace water mains.
• $548,802 for the City of Lancaster to construct an additional sewer line and a new wastewater pumping station.
• $746,751 for the City of Monticello to fund an extensive project which will include a new pump station.
• $129,262 for Mount Sterling Water and Sewer to replace problematic sewer lines and hydrants.
• $679,000 for the City of Scottsville to install new sewer infrastructure for the new Allen Springs Industrial Park.
• $444,202 to the Springfield Water and Sewer Commission to replace a waterline and repaint water storage tanks.