Water Supply

With the dry weather sticking around, the message from the Jessamine County Fire District and the Nicholasville Fire Department is a simple one: The burn ban is still on. According to the National Weather Service in Louisville, the Lexington area, which includes Jessamine County, is below its normal rainfall totals for the year. The normal amount of rainfall for the year is 37.27 inches. So far in 2010, rainfall totals sit at 30.9 inches, 7.18 inches below normal. Since Sept. 1, the normal rainfall for the area is 4.64 inches, and the total rainfall in the area for the period is .85 inches.

The Jessamine County Fiscal Court will make it easier for those wishing to discard hazardous household waste items during its Fall Hall program on Saturday, Oct. 16, from 7:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Those items can be dropped off at the Jessamine County Convenience Center, located at 123 Hendren Way. Hazardous items, such as paint, paint thinners, antifreeze, pesticides and more, will be accepted during the event. According to Environmental Services Director Mike Cassidy, a large number of everyday household materials should be considered hazardous — including some unexpected items such as moth balls, kitchen- and bathroom-cleaning materials, and arts and crafts supplies.

Dear Editor, The recycling tax, regardless of points of view, has been assessed. Commissioners and proponents used the small cost as the reason for passage. It is a new and an added tax. There is a deeper and more disturbing facet to this tax, and it reaches back to other taxation that has been implemented by elected commissioners — the manner in which the trash collections tax, the storm water tax, and now, the recycling tax is collected. Water is a basic commodity of government provision.

A new planning study presented Thursday reiterates Winchester Municipal Utilities' need for a new water treatment plant ? a major justification behind proposals for sweeping rate hikes. According to the study by engineering firm Hazen and Sawyer, WMU's current water plant is operating at 75 percent capacity while demand is increasing and regulations are growing more rigid. The plant, originally constructed in 1891, has not been updated for more than three decades and is only reliable to pump 3.2 million gallons per day (MGD)

A annual audit did not identify any instances of financial misconduct or deficiencies in record-keeping at Winchester Municipal Utilities during the 2008-09 fiscal year, according to a report Thursday. Prepared by accounting firm Summers, McCrary & Sparks, the 46-page report issues an unqualified opinion and says WMU's statements fairly represent the utility's financial position. "It means we did not find any evidence of fraud or misappropriation of a material magnitude of which we would have had to qualify our opinion," said auditor Tom Sparks.

If you took a shower in Winchester this morning, there's a 30 percent chance the water flowed through a cast iron pipe that was built in 1891. There's a 100 percent chance the water was treated in a plant that hasn't been updated since 1974. Those were among the details discussed Tuesday as the Winchester Board of Commissioners continued its review of infrastructure needs at Winchester Municipal Utilities. The assessment is in preparation for a vote later this year on sweeping rate increases to pay for capital projects at WMU. The WMU Commission has asked city commissioners to raise the average residential utility bills by 70 percent over the next four years to fund the projects.

Here's the list of "shovel ready" projects Danville City Manager Paul Stansbury submitted to be considered for federal stimulus money. Raw Water Pump Station Emergency Plan Cost: $1.2 millionRelated jobs: 20 The project relates to water supply and involves the construction of a 300-foot water line at the raw water pump station, establishing backup power at the site and providing emergency raw water bypass connections. The project is vital to the operational security of the Danville water system which provides service to more than 50,000 Kentuckians.

HARRODSBURG - Officials at Monday afternoon's meeting of Mercer County Emergency Operations Center discussed the continuing progress towards replenishing the water supply, as well as the thousands who remain in the dark. Mercer Judge-Executive John Trisler said tanks at Harrodsburg were expected to be filled to 100 percent capacity overnight. This must happen before the supply can be tested by the state and boil water advisory can be lifted. A boil water advisory will remain in effect for Harrodsburg, Mercer County and Burgin until further notice.

Harrodsburg's water plant was down around 3 p.m. Friday. Kentucky Utilities personnel told the city they think downed power lines in Salvisa are causing the problem, and they think they can restore the water supply.