Kentucky’s drinking water and sewer systems need $15 billion additional infrastructure improvements over the next 20 years to improve drinking water and sewer systems, and dams, said Deputy Cabinet Secretary Bruce Scott to the Senate standing committee on natural resources.
Scott reported that the current investments aren’t enough and the state needs to take a proactive approach or risk paying more when these systems fail.
The state’s 213 drinking water treatment plants are more than 38 years old, on average. And about 800 of Kentucky’s wastewater treatment plants are more than 36 years old, on average.
The American Society for Civil Engineers 2017 report card noted Kentucky’s drinking water needs $6.2 billion in infrastructure and wastewater needs total $6.24 billion over the next 20 years.
