“Utilities helping utilities” bring water heroes to eastern Kentucky flood cleanup

Since catastrophic floodwaters surged through eastern Kentucky in late July, the water community has rallied together to help rural systems suffering widespread destruction and disruption return as quickly as possible to delivering safe drinking water and wastewater services.

Navigating around washed out roads, bridges, and other damaged infrastructure, determined crews from more than 20 Kentucky water utilities quickly responded to the largest water infrastructure disaster in Kentucky’s history, delivering personnel, equipment and materials. Some crews also traveled from Virginia and West Virginia to help. 

Much of this outpouring of support was coordinated through Kentucky’s Water/Wastewater Agency Response Network (WARN), known as KYWARN. Each state in the country, other than Mississippi, has a WARN network of “utilities helping utilities” to rapidly coordinate mutual aid and emergency relief efforts and dispatch qualified personnel during emergencies.

Other organizations helping local utilities with evaluation and restoration efforts include the Kentucky/Tennessee Section of the American Water Works Association (KY/TN Section AWWA) and the Kentucky Rural Water Association. See Louisville Water’s videos about flood repair efforts here.

Unfortunately, emergencies stemming from climate-related events continue to impact water infrastructure in many locations, including in Indiana, Georgia and Mississippi. In Jackson, Miss., excessive rainfall impacted a water-treatment plant, causing low water pressure through much of the city. 

“The disastrous flooding in eastern Kentucky illustrates how important the resiliency of water systems and the larger water community are to public health and safety, particularly in smaller, rural communities that don’t have a lot of resources to draw on,” said Kay Sanborn, KY/TN Section AWWA executive director. “As we know all too well, water is a precious resource that is fundamental both for daily life and for our ability to recover from disasters such as flood-damaged homes and business.”

In early August, just days after more than 10 inches of rain within 48 hours caused historical flooding in a 13-county area, it was estimated that about 18,000 service connections were without water and about 45,600 service connections were under boil-water orders. Three wastewater treatment plants were not operational, and others were under limited operations or on bypass because of power outages and storm damage, including mudslides and rockslides. 

“The water systems are heavily damaged. Some are wiped out,” said Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear at an Aug. 3 press conference. “It’s going to take significant time and significant dollars to restore what was damaged.”

Louisville Water and Oldham County Water District were among the KYWARN member utilities to answer the call for help in eastern Kentucky. Their crews joined forces to assess the damage and make repairs in the city of Hazard and throughout Perry County, some of the hardest hit areas. Crews drove through thick mud and debris, down hollers, and over mountains to find broken or exposed water mains. As of last week, water service in the county was nearly completely restored.

Brad Hart, manager of security & emergency preparedness with Louisville Water, was among those helping. “I’ve done two tours in Iraq, but what I saw in eastern Kentucky was overwhelming,” he said. “I still have trouble comprehending.” 

To donate to flood relief efforts, go to the following websites:

• Appalachian Crisis Aid Fund – Foundation for Appalachian Kentucky
• Flood Relief in Eastern Kentucky – Volunteers of America Mid States
• Kentucky Flood Relief – All Hands and Hearts
• Kentucky Sports Radio and Kentucky Chamber Relief Fund 
• Team Eastern Kentucky Flood Relief Fund – Kentucky state government

(Photos courtesy of Louisville Water)