05-03-2025
Regional Water Resource Agency approved to seek grant for $18 million sewer upgrade
OWENSBORO, Ky. (WEHT) — Owensboro's Regional Water Resource Agency says it's time to pull the plug on a 70-year-old sewer pipe. The pipe runs for about 2 miles, from the Owensboro Convention Center to Euwing Road.
The Rate Review Board voted in favor of moving forward with trying to secure an $18 million grant from the Kentucky Infrastructure Authority. The agency's Executive Director, Joe Schepers, says they'll also work on hiring an engineer.
Officials say the pipe is the only one of its kind in the entire city. The RWRA says there are currently no major issues, but the concern is there is no backup. It also accounts for 44% of the city's combined sewer system.
'The best way to describe it is it's like a Pepsi can. It's a real thin wall. When it's under pressure and it's full of Pepsi, you can squeeze it. It's good and solid, but as soon as you open it up and empty it out, you can crush it with two fingers,' says Schepers.
Next, the Regional Water Resource Agency will get final approval for the grant from KIA. Upon final grant approval, the y hope to begin construction on the 3-year project by June. If it fails before construction is over, untreated wastewater could end up in the Ohio River.
Schepers says in a worst-case scenario, they'll create alternative routes
'We would have to put a pipe above ground to bypass around this. You're talking about very disruptive. It would be in streets. It'd be block and cross streets be block and driveways. So our whole goal is get this done before anything like that happens. '
The pipeline has been running 24/7 since 1955.
Schepers says the $18 million would save them around $8 million due to loan forgiveness and the interest rate dropping from 3 percent to 1.25 percent.
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