Expanded Access to Water & Sewer

Regional Water Commission – On December 10, 2003 I signed Executive Order No. 2003-005 thereby establishing the Lincoln Trail Regional Water Commission.  The Commission is comprised of Water District #1, Water District #2, the cities of Radcliff and Elizabethtown, and Fort Knox.  The purpose of the Commission is to coordinate the availability of potable water through the development, management, and operating of jointly owned sources of water for the betterment and benefit of our region. 

Collectively, member organizations of the Regional Water Commission currently possess the ability to produce up to 25 million gallons of water per day at peak capacity.  The Commission is in the process of acquiring the 7 million gallon per day capacity water treatment plant from Fort Knox as part of the installation’s privatization program.

A primary benefit of the Regional Water Commission is to insure Hardin County as a whole retains control of our water supplies.  

Safe Drinking Water Expansion - During the past four years Water Districts No. 1 & 2 have installed more than 125 miles of water main lines to provide the availability of safe drinking water to more than 1,100 households throughout Hardin County.  By the end of 2006, approximately 97% of Hardin County households will have access to safe drinking water, up from approximately 92% four years ago. 

State funding, federal grants, and direct funding from our federal congressional delegation has provided a significant portion of the resources necessary to bring our local water projects to fruition.  Our close coordination with Senators McConnell and Bunning resulted in $3 million of federal funds directed toward water expansion projects in Hardin County.

Wastewater Planning – In 2005 Senator McConnell was successful in supporting my request for Federal funding to prepare a Regional Wastewater Facilities Plan for the Hardin County area.  Senator McConnell earmarked $200,000 for the plan, which began in 2005, and will be completed this fall.  Its purpose is to define the most appropriate and cost effective solutions for managing wastewater collection and treatment throughout the county.  The plan will establish priorities for potential areas of service, methods of collection and treatment, and potential funding sources and methods for completing each phase.  The life of the plan is expected to span a twenty-year period.

The completed plan will be key to documenting our region’s wastewater needs and priorities.  This plan will assist in obtaining federal and state grants, as well as receiving additional direct funding through our federal and state legislative delegations over the next twenty years.