Water Supply

The Winchester Municipal Utilities Commission and the Winchester Board of Commissioners will hold a joint meeting next week to discuss water supply - an issue that will determine the community's future for decades. WMU General Manager Vernon Azevedo told the WMU Commission Thursday that the meeting will be held at 6 p.m. Tuesday in the George Rogers Clark High School auditorium. During the meeting, officials will review three options to address a forecasted dearth of water supply.

HARRODSBURG - Water quality may be something Mercer Countians do not have to worry about. Walter Bottoms, superintendent of the Harrodsburg water treatment plant, reported an "outstanding year at the water plant" regarding lead and copper levels, as well as overall cleanliness of the county's water supply. Bottoms issued the report at Monday's Harrodsburg City Commission meeting. "Everything is looking real good for us," he said. "We have good numbers. " Bottoms said the maximum contaminant level, or MCL, was at an all-time low for the water plant.

The recent op-ed in The Winchester Sun by Kentucky American Water Company President Nick Rowe in support of his company's proposed $160 million project to build a plant and 31-mile pipeline, deserves careful scrutiny. For example, Mr. Rowe claimed that: "The Kentucky River Authority has budgeted funds to install crest gates which will add 1.5 billion gallons of capacity to Pool 3 . " of the Kentucky River in Franklin and Owen counties. The Kentucky River Authority has said that there is no money in their budget for the installation of crest gates on Pool 3 of the Kentucky River.

The majority of central Kentucky residents who have trusted Kentucky American Water to provide their water service for generations understand now is the time to make sure that our region has the water it needs currently and for the next generation. Kentucky American Water and the Bluegrass Water Supply Commission (BWSC) have a Kentucky River solution ready to move forward. We refer to it as The Central Kentucky Solution. This solution is supported by eight years of hard work by a diverse group of regional stakeholders, unlike a late-coming, yet-to-be-defined Louisville Water Company (LWC)

If approved, the Kentucky-American Water Co. plan to build a new facility near Warsaw will be a positive thing for Nicholasville, City Utilities Director Tom Calkins said. "The important thing about KAW having another source of water is that when we get into a dry situation like we had last summer, they can switch to the new facility and keep our water quality higher," he said. Last summer's drought took its toll on Dam No. 9 located near the Valley View Ferry where much of Nicholasville, and other surrounding municipalities, get their water.

Stanford lifts water restrictions STANFORD - Stanford's water advisory has been lowered to an alert. "They are no longer banning (unnecessary use), they're just encouraging conservation," said Stanford's water department manager, Alan DeShon, of Stanford City Council members. They lifted restrictions Wednesday night. "We're not completely out of the woods yet," said Mayor Bill Miracle. "But the water commission and council feel comfortable. " DeShon said the water supply has gone from 14 weeks to 19 weeks, and Harris Lake has gained three feet at the last measuring.

Will Stanford, in the grip of an unprecedented drought, become like tiny Orme, Tenn., and run out of drinking water? Without intervention, that could happen in about 14 weeks, the city's water manager said. "It's possible," said Alan DeShon, manager of water and sewer. Stanford Mayor Bill Miracle said on Monday he felt the city was "holding its own" but did express some urgency in exploring alternative methods to bring water to the city's customers. "We're keeping a close eye on this," Mr. Miracle said.

NOV. 20, 1982 During a two-day visit in Winchester, Korean Congressman Chung Woo Shik was the house guest of former Winchester Police Chief and Mrs. N. Lee Tucker at their home on Moundale Avenue. Following his visit here, the congressman resumed his six-week tour of the United States. Ruth Gillespie Snowden, Skylark Drive, has returned from Washington, D.C., where she entered three portraits in the John Howard Sanden National Portrait Seminar. Brenda Hensley of Winchester recently became a member of Alpha Omicron Pi's first pledge class at the University of Kentucky.

Georgia Gov. Sonny Perdue prayed for rain on the steps of his state's capitol Tuesday, asking for divine relief from the extreme drought in the Southeast. With no relief in sight, the city of Atlanta, America's fastest growing metropolis, has about two months' supply of water remaining. Alan Deshon, Stanford's Sewer and Water Department Manager, hasn't gotten to that point yet, but Stanford's water supply isn't that far behind Atlanta's. Mr. Deshon estimates that approximately 14 weeks' worth of water remain in the Stanford Water District's two reservoirs.

An upper-level trough over the Mississippi River Valley is bringing needed rainfall to the commonwealth. "Liquid gold!" one weatherman exclaimed on the Web. This low pressure system is expected to remain over our region for the next couple of days, which means more showers and thunderstorms throughout the rest of the work week for Kentucky, forecasters said. "From this event alone, Bowling Green has already received more than five inches, Louisville has received more than four inches, and Lexington has received more than three inches," University of Kentucky weatherman Tom Priddy said on his Web site Tuesday.