LEXINGTON, Ky. — Kentucky American Water is investing $2 million into Lexington's water system infrastructure. The water company said out of the fourteen counties they service, Fayette County has the oldest water mains in the state.
What You Need To Know
- Kentucky American Water unveiled a $2 million dollar project in Lexington to fix old water mains
- Fayette County has some of the oldest water mains in the state
- Several crews and contractors like Dix & Associates Pipeline Contractors, Inc are in charge of completing the job
- Titus Jeffries, a pipe layer in training is dedicated to getting his community what they need
It’s out with the old and in with the new because Kentucky American Water is installing a total of 7,500 linear feet of new water mains in Lexington near downtown. It’s a part of a project expected to be finished by July 2022.
The water company said the project correlates with a $20 million dollar water main upgrade approved in June 2021 by the Kentucky Public Service commission. It will also serve as a project in the Qualified Infrastructure Program known as QIP.
Kentucky American Water will have various crews and contractors working on the project for the next several months until the summer. Those included in the big task are Dix & Associates Pipeline Contractors, Inc.
Titus Jeffries is a part of that crew handling the task. He’s been in the contracting industry for 5 years.
“I’m originally from Toledo, Ohio, I just moved here recently within the last eleven months to Lexington,” said Jeffries.
This is Jeffries first month on the job with Dix & Associates. but he’s optimistic and thankful to be on the team with people he said feel like family.
“We’re cutting a hole into the street for the water line so we are disconnecting the old water lines that have been in for like thirty-five, forty years. We’re cutting those off and putting new services in,” said Jeffries.
Crews are replacing 4,000 linear feet of water mains in Lexington on North Ashland Ave, Aurora Ave. and Memory Ln. that were installed in 1912. They’re some of the oldest in the state.
They’re moving to National Ave. to replace 3,500 linear feet of the water mains installed in 1935. Jefferies said the job is a dangerous one.
“All the time you have to be mindful and pay attention to what’s going on inside the hole and especially when he’s digging it could be a gas line, it could be a water line, or just a sewer line that’s not properly marked. If we don’t see it, it’s our job to pay attention and make sure we’re keeping ourselves, as well as the environment, safe,” said Jeffries.
Susan Lancho serves as Kentucky American Water’s senior manager of external communications. Lancho said replacements of old water mains is essential.
If mains are not replaced in a timely manner, they could break or cost the company even more money.
“Basically it allows us to update older or problematic water mains within our system at a greater pace. So our customers will see a lot of activity throughout our service area with us doing just that. Replacing those water mains that in some cases they’re older, you know water pipes can last a very long time but they do have a lifespan,” said Lancho.
Taking care of water system infrastructure has been a part of Gov. Andy Beshear's plan, as he helps the Commonwealth work towards clean water. He’s funding it through the American Rescue Plan Act.
$250 million was allocated at the close of the 2021 General Assembly which reached a bi-partisan agreement.
Water mains typically last between 20 and 100 years and Jeffries and his team are working eight-hour shifts to make sure the job gets done.
“If we’re still open and we got a good day going, we’ll keep going and we won’t stop. We want to get these residents their services back as quick as possible,” said Jeffries.
While crews work, Lancho says customers could have disruptions for a few hours at a time but they will be notified when or if that does happen.