U.S. Representative Guthrie responds to water issues in Edmonson County

WARREN COUNTY, KY.- As we continue to watch for new developments in Edmonson County, local officials, and state leaders work to solve the ongoing tap water issues for residents in the Edmonson County water district area.

Congressman Brett Guthrie is doing what he can to help and tells us the two separate issues need to be resolved. First, helping the water district with opportunities for federal funding to have an adequate water system, and maintaining safe access to water with the removal of the Green River Lock Dam number five. The Army Corps of Engineers began removing the dam in 2023 to return the water to its natural flow, and the city is not used to the amount of water that will be left.

Guthrie shares there has always been access to water in the Edmonson County water district, but since the partial removal of the dam, future access to water could be a problem. He says, “In doing that that does threaten the intake in Brownsville water, in the plant in Brownsville, and we need to make sure that’s taken care of and that’s one area that we’re focusing on on the federal level, that’s a direct federal nexus and we’re working directly with that.”

Hours after our interview this morning, Congressman Guthrie questioned the head of the Army Corps of Engineers during an energy and commerce hearing in Washington about the corps’ flawed study on the removal of the Green River lock and dam, and their ability to consider the potential problems that would arise with the dam’s removal. As we continue to follow this story, News 40 will keep you updated.