Home » Hardin County Water District No. 2 now includes a supply from Louisville

Hardin County Water District No. 2 now includes a supply from Louisville

LOUISVILLE (May 25, 2017) – The southern part of Hardin County and Elizabethtown now has an abundant supply of water. Louisville Water Company and Hardin County Water District No. 2 have completed work that allows the water district to receive at least 160 million gallons of water annually from Louisville Water.

Today, leaders from both water utilities announced the completion of a nearly $20 million dollar project that will help secure the water needs for a growing part of Hardin County for the next 20 years. At a dedication ceremony in Colesburg, Ky., the Miller Pump Station was commissioned for the first time to supply water. The station was constructed as part of the work to connect to Louisville Water.

Carlos Miller, retired vice president of Kenvirons Engineering, was the principal engineer for the district for over 20 years. Miller’s expertise guided the growth of the district into the second largest water district in Kentucky.

The district serves a 425-square mile portion of Hardin County. The district also has interconnections with the City of Hodgenville, Hardin County Water District No. 1, Larue, Edmonson and Grayson County Water Districts. The Hardin County area has seen rapid growth in the past several years, creating an expected need for additional capacity.

“As of today, Hardin County will be served the first blended waters of Louisville Water Company and Hardin County Water District No. 2,” said James Jeffries, General Manager of the District. “As demand in the county continues to grow, increasing volumes from Louisville through the Miller Pump Station will meet the need.” Plus, we’re blending the drinking water from the only two Kentucky utilities to win the ‘Best Tasting Water’ award from the American Water Works Association. Our customers will continue to enjoy outstanding water quality.”

The partnership also provides a key economic benefit. The additional water supply is available for the Glendale Mega Site, one of only two Kentucky certified CSX mega sites, which promises a large growth potential for the Hardin County region. “Water capacity is critical when trying to attract new industry to the area,” said Rick Games, President and CEO of the Elizabethtown Industrial Foundation. “Hardin County Water is staying in front of the discussion.”

“This is an important regional partnership for Louisville Water,” said Spencer Bruce, President and CEO of Louisville Water. “We are thrilled to work with Hardin County Water District No.2 to not only give them an extra supply of water for their existing customers but we’re laying the foundation for new jobs. Now, this area can more easily accommodate a request from an industry where there’s need for an abundant, high-quality supply of water.”

Making the Connection

Both Louisville Water and the District completed large projects to make the connection. In Hardin County, the District installed 11 miles of a 24-inch diameter water main from its existing system in Elizabethtown to the Hardin-Bullitt County line and constructed the Miller Pumping Station. The District received a $6 million grant from the Kentucky Cabinet for Economic Development and a $500,000 grant from the Kentucky Infrastructure Authority to cover part of its $16.0 million cost. The USDA Rural Development provided a $5.0 million loan and the District contributed $4.5 million.

Louisville Water installed four miles of water main through Bullitt County to connect to the District. The $5.8 million investment also helped Louisville Water improve its service to its existing customers in Bullitt County.

The District and Louisville Water began talking about a partnership nearly 10 years ago and signed a partnership agreement in 2013. The two water providers spent a considerable amount of time looking at the best long-term water solution for the region, how to balance any water quality concerns and the best route to connect the water mains between Louisville Water and the District.