Published: May 17, 2009 10:46 pm      

Water on the way to Greenup

Project to cost $237,000

CANNONSBURG — Two months from now Cannonsburg water should be flowing to homes in the Argillite area of Greenup County, thanks to a pipeline project that has passed the final hurdles.

The Cannonsburg Water District has hired contractors to install 5.5 miles of pipe along the Industrial Parkway between the current terminus at Sand Gap to Ky. 207, where it will connect with the Greenup system, Danny Clarkston, general manager, said.

The influx of water from the Cannonsburg system will alleviate pressure and quality problems that for years have plagued the Argillite area, where residents are accustomed to almost weekly advisories to boil their water.

The project will cost about $273,000, most of it funded by state money through the Kentucky Infrastructure Authority, said project engineer Paul Amburgey.

The contractor has 60 days to complete the project once the materials arrive, Amburgey said. That means the water should be flowing by August.

Cannonsburg will sell the water to Greenup, which will then bill customers, said Greenup Mayor Donna Hewlett. The connection will serve about 350 homes. Greenup, which owns and operates the system that covers much of the county, will be able to add 325 more customers in its next expansion.

“This is perfect timing with phase 8,” Hewlett said.

The city recently received state approval of a study that analyzed the system to locate problems. Completing the study was a condition for approval of the expansion, which will serve the Schultz area.

The expansion is expected to start in about a year.

Buying the water from Cannonsburg won’t cost any more than making it in the city’s water plant, Hewlett said.

The Cannonsburg connection also will provide backup water supplies, should the system ever fail.

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