Beshear Announces $1 Million Water Improvements

Governor Steve Beshear today announced $1 million for the design and construction of a new waterline project in Kenton County.  The project will provide public water service to residents who currently depend on cisterns and wells that are easily subject to contamination.

“Modern, quality infrastructure is an imperative to helping our Kentucky communities grow and thrive,” said Gov. Beshear.  “Thanks to this new waterline project in Kenton County,  residents who have never had access to public water service have the opportunity to get guaranteed safe drinking water in their homes for the first time.”

Areas served in Kenton County include Cruises Creek, Decoursey Pike, Lakeview Drive, and Fontana, Rich, Rouse and Camp Roads.  Currently, residents in these areas depend on cisterns, wells and hauled water, which is only used for laundry and other household and outdoor projects.  The majority of residents purchase and use bottled water for drinking in order to avoid safety risks.

Water tests recently conducted in the area found 12 bad wells and cisterns and 13 instances of contamination, such as the E. coli bacteria.

The $1 million Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) will go to the Northern Kentucky Water District via the Kenton County Fiscal Court for the design and construction of 6.74 miles of waterlines, fire hydrants and related appurtenances.  Once implemented, the project will provide water service to 135 households and reduce each household’s water rate cost.

Sen. Damon Thayer was at the Piner Baptist Church in Morning View yesterday to present the grant check to Kenton County.

“I am grateful to the Governor for his efforts to make sure our community has funding to improve critical infrastructure needs,” said Sen. Thayer. “It is vital to the health of our citizens to have access to water that is safe and reliable, and this support will now make that a reality for my constituents in south Kenton County.”

The state’s CDBG program is administered by Department for Local Government and funded through the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD). Kentucky’s Congressional leaders’ continued support of the CDBG program ensures the availability of continued funding in Kentucky and nationally.