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Rural Water Utilities Face Funding Concerns

krwa.org

More than 600 utility representatives are meeting in Lexington this week for the Kentucky Rural Water Association Conference. One of the most discussed topics is funding for water related improvements in rural areas.  Association Training Specialist Randall Kelly says many grant programs no longer exist.  Kelly says some rural utilities take out loans to pay for new water lines.  “That has to be budgeted for in their rates and so, some of these communities are poor communities, so they really can’t jack up their rates very much," Kelly said.  "It’s a tough balance. They are looking for ways to save money in a lot of cases."

Kelly says many utilities across Kentucky have been consolidated over the years.  He says in the 1970’s, there were some 2,200 water utilities. Today he says that number is closer to 400.

Kelly says the horrific wildfires raging in the western U.S. are something most Kentuckians might find hard to picture happening in the state.   He says the Commonwealth typically sees between 40 and 50 inches of precipitation each year.  He says Kentucky is somewhat unique in that, many of its water utilities don’t draw from ground water supplies.  “We much more rely on surface water," he explained. "We’re a majority surface water state.  The regulations are different, much more stringent for surface water.  The treatment is much more complicated and involved and expensive than for a ground water system.”

Kelly says another issue being addressed is straight pipe pollution, which happens when a pipe connected to a house carries sewage directly into a waterway. Kelly says progress is being made to eliminate straight pipe pollution.   “Pike County, the typical eastern Kentucky county that a lot of folks speak of, has almost completely eliminated straight pipe by expanding rural sewer up into every holler practically,"he said. "So, it’s been an expensive process, but it’s been beneficial to that end of the state.” 

Kelly says funding issues remain for water related infrastructure improvements.  He says a lot of the federal grant money for such work has dried up.

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