11.3 miles of water lines will serve 35 homes

Contact:  Mark York 502-564-3350  

Booneville, Ky. (Oct. 4, 2007) – Governor Ernie Fletcher’s goal of extending clean, safe drinking water to all Kentuckians moved a step closer today for residents of 35 homes in Owsley and Jackson counties.

Teresa J. Hill, secretary of the Environmental and Public Protection Cabinet, today announced funding of a water supply project to serve those residents. Hill presented a check for $1.05 million to the Owsley County Fiscal Court for the project.

A groundwater contamination study funded by the Division of Abandoned Mine Lands (AML) found pre-1982 mining had impacted much of the groundwater in the Grassy Branch, Laurel Fork of Buffalo Creek, Little Sturgeon and Split Poplar/Poletown areas of Owsley County, as well as the Allen Road area of Owsley and Jackson counties.

“These projects involve the construction of nearly 11.3 miles of water main and the installation of meters to serve 35 residences whose water supply has been impacted by mining,” Hill said. “These extensions will replace tainted well water, giving citizens the assurance they will have safe water in their homes.”

The majority of the project will be constructed in Owsley County, with a small portion in the Allen Road area in Jackson County.  The Owsley County Water District will operate and maintain the entire system.

“Extending water lines to citizens and providing them access to a safe water supply has been a priority of our administration,” said Governor Ernie Fletcher. “As a result, 92 percent of Kentuckians now have access to a community water system, a 10 percent increase since 1999.”