Nearly $30M headed to Edmonson County water upgrades
BROWNSVILLE, Ky. — Nearly $30 million in federal and state funding is headed to Edmonson County to help address long-standing water infrastructure concerns after lower Green River levels raised concerns about the county’s drinking water supply.
State and federal leaders gathered Tuesday in Brownsville to announce a funding package totaling roughly $29.7 million for upgrades to the Edmonson County Water District.
The investment includes $14 million for a new Green River intake structure, secured by Congressman Brett Guthrie, $9.256 million for modernization of the Brownsville water treatment plant, secured by Sen. Mitch McConnell and $6.5 million in state funding previously secured by State Rep. Michael Meredith for related infrastructure improvements.
Leaders said the need for the project became more urgent after the removal of aging locks and dams along the Green River lowered water levels more than expected, creating concerns about the county’s water intake system.
“This came about because there were dams and locks that were built by the federal government over 100 years ago that needed to be either repaired, replaced or removed,” Guthrie said. “By doing that, it lowered the water level to the point where there was risk to the intake for Edmonson County Water to be able to provide water for their citizens.”
Officials said the upgrades are expected to help prevent future issues tied to low water levels while also preparing the system for future growth and emergency backup connections with neighboring districts.
McConnell called the funding effort a collaborative process between local, state and federal leaders.
“That was a collaborative effort, basically,” McConnell said. “I’ve responded to what a lot of other folks had done — both state and local.”
Meredith, who grew up in Edmonson County, said solving the issue required coordination at every level of government.
“Working together, the state, the federal government and the local community were able to come up with a solution that’s going to fix this problem,” Meredith said.
Officials said engineering and bidding work are still ahead, with some construction expected to begin later this year or early next year.
Local leaders say the investment will help secure reliable access to clean drinking water for residents while supporting future growth in Edmonson County.
