14 News, The Tri-State's News and Weather Leader-Grant will help replace leaky sewer system

Grant will help replace leaky sewer system

By Stuart Peck - bio | email | Twitter

OHIO COUNTY, KY (WFIE) - Hartford, Kentucky landed a $1 million grant to fix the city's sewer problems.

The city's sewer problems are being uncovered, and now with help from a major grant, those problems can start to be fixed.

"It is difficult to not be able to see $3.5 million because it's going to be buried," Hartford city Mayor Charlotte Hendricks said. "We have had to raise water and sewer rates, people are not happy about that."

Hendricks recalled the phone call she received from one of the city commissioners.

"I screamed in his ear,"Hendricks said. "I was so elated. We've worked so long and so hard to get this money."

In the Iron Mountain portion of Hartford is where that Community Block Grant is going to be put to use.

They're going to replace over 35,000 feet of sewer line and 50 manholes.

That's just a portion of the total project, considering the city has over 200 manholes.

"Because of the terrain out here, when the sewer line was laid if it met, it met, if it didn't they just covered it up and went on," Hendricks said.

Thursday, city crews showed 14 News how bad the sewer system is leaking.

Using a hose, crews simulated what a heavy rain would look like inside the sewers.

After saturating the ground around the manhole, the water started seeping into the sewer through the concrete walls.

The total cost of the project is $3.5 million.

In addition to the grant, Hartford will also receive $600,000 already set aside in the state budget, as well as over $1 million in low interest loans.

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