LOUISVILLE, Ky. (August 16, 2018) – The Lincoln County Sanitation District is the recipient of the 2018 H2O Award for outstanding wastewater project, the Kentucky Infrastructure Authority (KIA) announced on Thursday.

The award, presented during the 43rd Annual Governor’s Local Issues Conference in Louisville, is given annually to community leaders who sponsor drinking water and wastewater infrastructure projects funded through KIA loan programs.

The winning project proposes construction of a sanitary sewage collection and conveyance system to serve 535 residential customers and 50 commercial customers in a western portion of Lincoln County that currently has no sanitary sewer system. Currently, sewage is disposed through the use of a combination of septic tanks and straight pipes, which has resulted in discharges of raw sewage into waterways.

“This project is notable for its public health implications, but also for the collaboration and cooperation required to make it happen,” KIA Executive Director Donna McNeil said. “Community leaders from Lincoln County and its cities came together to find a solution to a problem that posed an environmental and safety risk for residents. I am pleased to present this H2O Award today.”

The project is expected to eliminate more than 220 failing septic tanks, 101 raw sewage discharges and two package treatment plants. Homes and businesses along U.S. 127 starting south of Junction City and proceeding to Hustonville will benefit from the project.

Notably, this project will benefit the students and staff at Hustonville Elementary School, which has been served by a sewage package treatment plant that cannot adequately meet the school’s needs. To avoid overworking the current system, the school has refrained from using its dishwasher. Meals are served on Styrofoam trays with plastic utensils, which comes at a significant cost to the school district.

“I commend the officials of Lincoln County Fiscal Court, the City of Hustonville, the City of Danville, and all others involved in this major undertaking,” said Department for Local Government Commissioner Sandra Dunahoo, who also serves as chair of the KIA Board. “This project is a prime example of what is possible when we work together for the health, safety and comfort of all Kentuckians.”

“I’m extremely grateful to KIA, USDA Rural Development and the other funding agencies that have made this project possible,” said Lincoln County Sanitation District Commissioner Bill Payne. “The Lincoln County Sanitation District Board has been extremely hardworking and faithful. Lincoln County Fiscal Court has been very supportive, AGE Engineering has gone above and beyond, and Bluegrass ADD has been helpful on this journey. There have been a lot of moving parts to this project, and we just completed phase 1 and 1A. We’re beginning work on Phase 2 of the sanitary sewer project, and we’re looking forward to working with KIA, DLG and the Division of Water.”

“We’re very fortunate to have an aggressive sanitation district board, and we appreciate the Kentucky Infrastructure Authority, the Community Development Block Grant program, the Appalachian Regional Commission and all the funding agencies that made this possible,” Lincoln County Judge-Executive Jim Adams said. “We have three different sections of the county that now have sewer service, which is attractive for economic development and continues to improve water quality.”

Among its functions, KIA provides low-interest loans to public utilities for projects having to do with storm water control treatment systems, solid waste management systems and other infrastructure vital to public health.

KIA was created in 1988 to provide funding mechanisms for local public works projects. As of last year, the agency had provided more than $1.7 billion in assistance to municipalities across the Commonwealth wanting to expand access to potable water. KIA is under the Office of the Governor and administratively attached to the Department for Local Government. To learn more, visit kia.ky.gov.