By Brad Bowman

With a focus on providing clean, dependable drinking water to Kentucky families, water utilities have looked to regionalization of water services with remarkable results. Since 2000, the total number of public water systems in Kentucky has decreased 55 percent. Systems are working together to solve area water concerns and are realizing regionalization can increase efficiency, better protect the environment and increases a community’s capacity for economic development.

Kentucky’s average water treatment plant age is about 38 years old and water mains average about 40 years old. The challenge for many of Kentucky’s public drinking water systems are they have outlived their efficiency and exceeded their usefulness by decades. Small communities with a small customer base have limited resources that lack the funds for the needed repairs or replacement for these systems.

“Sustainable, reliable water services are crucial considerations for every homeowner, small business owner, and certainly large industries looking to build or relocate in our state,” said Energy and Environment Cabinet Secretary Rebecca Goodman. “It’s a problem throughout Kentucky, but we’ve found a successful solution through regionalization,”

“It’s a necessary step in order to support our communities and bring the kind of revitalization the Beshear Administration wants to bring to cities and towns throughout Kentucky,” Secretary Goodman said. “It’s part of our new Kentucky home.”

Sarah Gaddis, director of the Kentucky Energy and Environment Cabinet’s Division of Water, said Kentucky is a national leader when it comes to the effective regionalization of drinking water and wastewater systems.

“The division and our partners are often called upon to speak to groups and other states about the success our systems have enjoyed through regionalization,” Gaddis said.

Increased management capacity, as well as efficient purchasing and contracting through shared services are just some of the advantages, Gaddis said.

Logan Todd Regional Water Commission

By combining six regional drinking-water systems, the Logan-Todd Regional Water Commission (LTRWC) provides a perfect example of how much more efficient an interconnected region can be.

Drinking water systems from Todd and Logan counties, which include systems in the cities of Elkton, Guthrie, Trenton, Russellville, Lewisburg and Adairville all shouldered the burden of high operational costs with aging treatment facilities and distribution lines.

Each of the municipal plants drew from inadequate water sources yet were called upon to supply water to four additional water districts. After deciding to regionalize, the commission constructed a new treatment plant with an intake on the Cumberland River in Tennessee.

The commission eliminated drinking water plants in multiple cities and now enjoys a reliable and abundant water source bolstered by updated distribution lines, additional storage, reduced operating costs and streamlined operations.

The towns within the regional system maintain their own customers and billing, keeping their revenue base. But because the cost per system is spread out, each system sees a savings and they all benefit, said Kyle Kenner, system manager for the LTRWC.

“No one system alone could have built the infrastructure with the abundant water supply and the amount of redundancies we have in place,” Kenner said. “Regionalization has opened a vast number of resources to Logan/Todd Regional Water Commission and our customers.

“For example, if water consumption increases within any of our thirteen entities, it effects the whole group positively. [The development of the] Logan/Todd Regional Water Commission has allowed many of our rural areas and small cities to be competitive in industrial recruitment.”

Regionalization through shared management

The regionalization of drinking water operations in Warren, Simpson and Butler counties shows the benefits of a shared management model. The blended team includes a general manager, business operations manager and operations manager.

The districts share teams of employees who conduct sampling, complete tank inspections, exercise valves and perform flushing. Water is supplied to customers through a complex network of sales and purchases that involves different water systems in the region.

The collaboration has led to increased efficiency, reduced purchasing costs, increased revenue, and a higher level of service for the approximately 40,800 southeastern customers.

“Our success lies in our unity, where each district plays a vital role, yet we function as one cohesive entity,” said Jacob Cuarta, general manager of the Warren, Simpson and Butler Water districts.

Cuarta said he is proud to witness the seamless collaboration between the three districts.

“Together, we exemplify the power of cooperation, demonstrating that by working hand in hand, we can achieve far more than we ever could alone,” Cuarta said. “Our commitment to serving the people of Warren, Simpson, and Butler counties remains unwavering, and through our united efforts, we continue to set a standard of excellence in the water utility industry.”

Regionalization through interconnection

Increased public health is another benefit, as seen by the Spindletop Ponderosa mobile home park’s connection to the Georgetown municipal water system.

The park, which serves more than 500 customers, had failing package wastewater treatment plants. By connecting the package plants to the Georgetown municipal collection system, it stopped an ongoing release of sewage into Cane Run Creek—a tributary to the main water supply for Georgetown.

Likewise, the Farmdale Sanitation District in Franklin County is on the brink of a transformative change by regionalizing its wastewater system. By eliminating six small, failing package plants and redirecting sewage flow to the Frankfort collection system, the connection will eliminate sewage discharges, improve water quality, reduce neighborhood odors, and provide superior customer service.

These regionalization successes have improved and safeguarded the water quality for entire communities, as is the case with the city of South Shore.

Needing an alternative water source after Division of Water tests showed levels of per- and polyfluoroalkyl compounds (PFAS) in the municipal wells that supplied the community its drinking water, the city looked to permanently connect to the Portsmouth, Ohio water supply.

The city secured funding for a permanent connection, estimated to cost $16 million, with an EPA grant and a Kentucky Infrastructure Authority loan. The extensive project involves a water line of about 13,000 linear feet bored beneath the Ohio River.

While the project is pending, a temporary water line has been extended across the U.S. General Grant Bridge to supply the town of South Shore with water until the final solution can be

completed. The project will also include line replacements and two booster pump stations for water distribution.

These are just a few of the regionalization efforts that are producing safe reliable drinking water and sewer services for families and businesses. a positive impact in our counties, cities, and schools across the Commonwealth.

Kentucky’s journey towards water and wastewater regionalization serves as a blueprint for success, showcasing the transformative power of collaboration and strategic planning. Yet, as Secretary Goodman has noted, there are other efficiencies, environmental benefits and economic advantages to be gained elsewhere in the state through additional regionalization efforts.

Team Kentucky stands ready to help in these efforts.