KENTUCKY — Over $8 million in funding for water, sewer and other infrastructure improvements will soon be flowing to several Kentucky counties as part of Gov. Andy Beshear's Cleaner Water Program.

Beshear recently announced over $5.6 million would target Allen, Barren, Clinton, Cumberland, Hart, Metcalfe, Monroe, Russell and Wayne counties to provide cleaner drinking water and improved sewer and wastewater systems. An additional $2.5 million will help Boyle, Mercer and Washington counties with their water infrastructure.

“Working together, we are building a better Kentucky with improved, resilient infrastructure that supports our residents and meets the needs of our growing economy,” Beshear said in a press release. “Every Kentuckian has the right to expect access to clean drinking water.”

The expansive funding comes from the Better Kentucky Plan's $250 million Cleaner Water Program, which uses funds sourced from the American Rescue Plan Act passed by Congress.

Officials estimate the Cleaner Water Program will create over 3,800 jobs across Kentucky.

Big-ticket improvements

Over $1.6 million will be provided to the Glasgow Water and Sewer Commission to advance a project constructing a transmission line from the water treatment plant at Barren River Lake to the site of a proposed water tank on the west side of the city. State Rep. Steve Riley, who represents Barren and parts of Warren County, said the program will help his constituents live a safer, better life.

"With the improvements to the water systems, we are ensuring that Kentuckians have access to clean water,” Riley said recently. "I am proud to support these improvements that will directly impact lives across the Commonwealth.”

In Monticello, $746,751 will fund an extensive project which will include a new pump station at Powersburg. The City of Scottsville will use $679,000 to install new sewer infrastructure to serve the new, 100-acre Allen Springs Industrial Park.

In Boyle County, $1,103,985 was awarded to the Mercer County Sanitation District to improve protect the health and water quality of Lake Herrington, which provides water supply to four neighboring counties.

You can read more about each Cleaner Water Program award here.

Over $106 million has been awarded to grantees to fund projects since the call was announced June 1, 2021. Eligible government agencies, such as city-owned water or sewer utilities, water commissions, water and sewer districts and counties, collaborated with their local Area Development Districts and Area Water Management Councils to submit projects for Cleaner Water Program funding.

There are 713 public drinking water and wastewater utilities in Kentucky. The state earned a C+ on its drinking water and C- on wastewater ratings, according to the American Society of Civil Engineers' 2019 infrastructure report card.