Edmonson County Water District explains water issues, addresses Hart County concerns
Lock 5 has been opened up on each end, and the ripple is holding water for the intake in Brownsville. Photo by Lynn Bledsoe
Lynn Bledsoe
Gimlet Managing Editor
Edmonson County Water District (ECWD) held an emergency meeting on Monday, August 26. The main purpose was to discuss the negative press coverage and to discuss the issues with reports of contaminated water.
The water is not contaminated. There is a lot of growth and building in the area, and many times water lines were mistakenly hit and busted. This is going to let dirt and debris into the lines. Once the lines are repaired, the lines are flushed until clear. If you are a customer and do not receive the calls for a boil water advisory, then it may be because your phone number is not current with the district.
Kevin Shaw, General Manager of ECWD, said that another issue was that the District had to send out a public notice in the Wax area. The District had not met all the regulations in the past, and they should have. They are determined that this shouldn’t happen again. A construction project in the Cub Run area recently hit a main line, and the District responded quickly to repair and flush the lines. This was not due to anything the District did wrong, but to a construction error. Division of Water contacted ECWD and, when it was explained that it was due to construction breaking the line, they decided it was not something serious and they had no need to investigate.
Shaw said Lock 5 has been opened up on each end, and the ripple is holding water for the intake in Brownsville. The diver has reported that the intake is in good shape and does not have silt and debris covering it up. Shaw said he believes that people in the community can take a deep breath of relief now.
It was reported in Edmonson County Fiscal Court by Dillon Hazelwood that the river had shifted towards the intake, improving things. Allied, whom the pump was purchased from, have been here helping to monitor things. Hazelwood asked about changing from 8 in. line to a 10 or 12 in. line that would pump 1750 gallons a minute. Normally, the District pumps 2000 gallons a min for 12 hours a day. Hazelwood said there are two ripples that are holding back the water.
Another big issue lately has been that Hart County wants a seat on the Water District Board. On July 8, 2024, Hart County Judge/Executive Joe Choate sent an e-mail formally asking for a seat on the ECWD Board.
Shaw then contacted Attorney Damon Talley of Stoll, Keenon, and Ogden. Talley replied that Hart County has 16% of the District’s customers, 2 of the 18 water storage tanks, 2 of the 15 booster pumps, 130 miles of the 690 miles of water lines, 0 treatment plants, and $3,373,396 of the ECWD total $23,771,363 assets. About 14.2% of the assets are located in Hart County and, before Hart County can have a seat on the Board, they must have a minimum of 25%. Kevin Shaw and the Board members are governed by the Public Service Commission, and the rules and regulations are very clear. Shaw stated that anyone is welcome to come to the meetings as they are open to the public, and anyone is welcome.
The $6.5 million dollars which was designated for Edmonson County Water District that was approved in April by legislatures is not in the District’s hands right now. It will not be distributed until after July 1, which is the new fiscal year.
Shaw is also going to apply for additional funding for water storage tanks, and the other will address water loss in the system with zone meters and new software. If these resolutions are approved, then the District can apply for these projects. Each project will be just under $1 million each.
Hart County has 16% of the Edmonson County Water District’s customers, and about 14.2% of the Water District’s assets are located in Hart County. Before Hart County can have a seat on the ECWD Board, they must have a minimum of 25%. Photo: Green River in Brownsville / Photo by Lynn Bledsoe
ECWD has the funds available without the legislature funds. Why the waiting game? I agree with Judge Choate that a seat is required on the ECWD Board for representation. We are not located in your county and have no input to decision making as we are not represented. How many representatives are at ECWD? Which one represents our area? Why were we added to ECWD, if not for professional service to extend to us as customers. I am in the Cub Run area and receive numerous water quality warnings. I lost count of how many we have received. The water quality even before the locks were being removed continued to be dangerously contaminated. Diana Day Thompson
My two boys and I moved here from Missouri on July 3rd 3 years ago. I was 192 pounds when we arrived, I now weigh 130 pounds. We drank the water for a year and I became very sick. I have a severe parasitic infection that won’t go away. I am so damn angry at myself really for trusting that Edmonson county water district knew what they we’re doing as far as providing good drinking water to customers, shame on me for that… my two sons have lost so much weight, we are always ill thanks to their failure to maintain clean water. I pay a water bill monthly just to get sick and more ill, I’ve NEVER had this problem with tap water anywhere else I’ve lived. They really need to wake up and do their damn job correctly..I resent this company and feel even more nauseated that usual when I send them money every month for their shit water. I apologize for the cursing but I am so sick and tired of being sick and tired.. I exist daily on my couch, sick, no energy to do a thing. I’m on disability and ssi but I always groomed dogs to support my income for my family. Well, not anymore. I’m heartbroken we are struggling really bad with the loss of income and illness. I don’t know what to do. Although, the thought of wishing I could sue the crap out of the water district has crossed my mind but I know that could never happen. They’ll continue to give us CONTAMINATED water. Now I literally go broke monthly buying bottled water to drink ON TOP of paying the district. Ridiculous. I never dreamt I’d be paying TWO water bills because of their negligence. Thanks for making life “shitty” shame on you Edmonson county shit water district.
Not to defend the county, but the combination of contaminated plumbing in old homes and the Chinese made plastic pipes in new homes, no wonder everyone’s sick