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Recovery Act Funding to Improve Water Service, Create Jobs in Louisville

Release Date: 03/29/2010
Contact Information: Dawn Harris-Young, 404-562-8421, [email protected]

(ATLANTA – Mar. 29, 2010) During a ceremony today at the Louisville Water Company, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) joined the Kentucky Infrastructure Authority (KIA) to recognize a $4.17 million project funded through the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) of 2009 in Louisville, Ky. The Louisville Water Company received a loan through the Drinking Water State Revolving Fund for the I-64 pipeline project, which is part of a larger effort to provide improved regional water service.

“This project is a prime example of how Recovery Act funding is helping local communities,” said Acting EPA Regional Administrator Stan Meiburg. “The I-64 pipeline project will fund much-needed improvements in water service for Louisville Water Company customers and expand service to Eastern Jefferson County, Shelby County and Frankfort, providing environmental benefits and creating green jobs.”

"Through the combined efforts of the EPA and KIA, Louisville Water Company has been able to use federal funds to not only provide much-need improvements in water service for existing Louisville Water Company customers, but also expand service to Eastern Jefferson County, Shelby County and Frankfort," said Gov. Beshear. “Such strategic use of ARRA funds is indicative of our commitment to building stronger communities from the ground up.”

The Louisville Water Company serves approximately 270,220 customers in Jefferson, Oldham and Bullitt Counties whose areas have a combined population of 801,018. The project involves the construction of 5.4 miles of 36-inch steel transmission pipeline along I-64, a booster pump station capable of pumping 20 million gallons per day and a storage tank with a capacity of 1 million gallons per day. This project will improve water service (pressure and fire flow) to existing customers and provide critical water supplies to Eastern Jefferson County for emergencies, droughts and to serve rapid growth in the area. The project will also provide a supplemental finished water source for Shelby County and Frankfort from Louisville Water Company's 35 million gallons per day of excess capacity, which may eliminate or defer the need to expand treatment facilities in those areas.

In 2009, the EPA distributed $20.5 million in ARRA funding to KIA to help the state finance many of the overdue improvements to drinking water systems that are essential for protecting public health and the environment across the state. The funding augmented Kentucky’s Drinking Water State Revolving Fund (SRF) program, which provides low-interest loans for drinking water systems to finance infrastructure improvements. The Louisville Water Company project received $ 4,173,200 in ARRA assistance through the SRF.

President Obama signed the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act on Feb. 17, and has directed the Recovery Act be implemented with unprecedented transparency and accountability. To that end, the American people can see how every dollar is being invested at www.Recovery.gov.