Published: April 28, 2009 10:13 pm      

Greenup sees end to water problems

GREENUP — State approval of a water system study brings Greenup a step closer to solving its pressure problems and starting a new water line expansion.

The Kentucky Division of Water this week approved a hydraulic study of the far-flung system of water lines, tanks and pumps with which the city supplies water to much of rural Greenup County.

The study used computers to analyze the system. When state water officials met with city officials to review it on Monday, they concluded a connection with the Cannonsburg water system could add pressure in problem areas, Mayor Donna Hewlett said.

Connecting with the Cannonsburg system will cost about $50,000, which the state is paying for, Hewlett said.

The connection between the two systems will take about 120 to 150 days to complete, Brent Tippey, vice president of HDR Engineering, said. It should alleviate pressure problems that for years have plagued the Argillite area.

Cannonsburg will sell the water to Greenup, so once the connection is complete customers in the affected area will get its water from Cannonsburg but bills will still come from Greenup.

Also, Greenup will be able to forge ahead with another expansion of the system, which will bring city water to about 325 homes in the Schultz area. The state had put the expansion on hold until the study was completed and approved.

The approval is a major step in Greenup’s water expansion plans, Hewlett said.

“The study was a stumbling block that stopped these 325 families from having water,” she said.

Work on the expansion could start in about a year, Tippey said. “By this time next year we should see dirt being turned and pipe going into the ground.”

MIKE JAMES can be reached at mjames@dailyindependent.com or at (606) 326-2652.