Water Quality Director Charlie Martin says it’s unclear when Lexington residents will see an increase in their sanitary sewer fees. Martin recently update a council committee on water projects.
The fee supports the $600 million dollar federally mandated sewer improvement program. Martin says, it’s a question of when, not if.
“We check every project, check it against cash flow. But to project it’s going to be next year or the year after that, I don’t know. But, I do know it will be eventually, we’ll have to raise rates again. It’s inevitable when you’re spending money at the rate that we are in order to meet the terms and conditions of the consent decree,” said Martin.
Martin says a major sewer line is slated for construction along Euclid Avenue from Upper Street to Fontaine Road close to the University of Kentucky. “I look at the map and I look at the activity there and think about trying to put something underground, while all that activity is trying to go on. It worries me. It’s just such a very densely and highly used corridor,” noted Martin.
The city of Lexington began work to overhaul the sanitary sewer system some five years ago. The federally ordered improvements must be completed by the end of 2026.
