Many rural parts of Kentucky are struggling with issues regarding their water infrastructure. Utilities in the eastern part of the commonwealth in particular are having a hard time dealing with leaking pipelines and problems such as debts and record keeping.
Many of these issues are nothing new, but more have come to light due to a new state program to help fund ways to correct these problems. Kentucky Lantern reporter Liam Neimeyer has been looking at the Kentucky Water and Wastewater Assistance for Troubled or Economically Restrained Systems Fund.
“Utilities across the state are able to apply for funding through this new program. It's being managed by the Kentucky Infrastructure Authority and the State Executive Branch, which normally deals with the state revolving loan funds that have already existed,” Neimeyer said.
He has been looking into the program and said that lawmakers will have some say in how funds are dispersed.
“The Kentucky Infrastructure Authority is required under this program to present a list of projects' applicants, rank those applicants and then lawmakers get final say over what projects to the program are ultimately approved.”
Neimeyer said there is optimism from some of the eastern Kentucky utilities, that the program will help ease their burden.
Liam Neimeyer's story with the Kentucky Lantern can be found here.
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