Media Release - March 26, 2009 - Bardstown Sewer Department

Over the past few years, the City of Bardstown has had problems with some parts of our sanitary sewer system. In particular, we have experienced sewer manhole overflows, especially during wet weather. These incidents are not only bad for the environment, but they have put the City out of compliance with the Clean Water Act.

As a result of the sewer system overflows (SSO's), the City has entered into an Agreed Order with the Kentucky Division of Water. By signing the Agreed Order, the City agreed to pay a $60,000 fine and complete a number of specific tasks within certain time frames. In general, the tasks fell into three general groups; reporting, planning, and operations.

Whenever there is a sewer overflow, the city files a report with the Kentucky Division of Water and on its website (www.cityofbardstown.org/sso). A series of studies have been done and reports written to assure that the department personnel know what is needed to be in compliance with all applicable laws and that we are committed to supply the resources to make the necessary changes to our system and operations. Operational changes have already been made to minimize the overflows while major renovations are finished.

There is one sewer line in particular that is most subject to overflows. The Town Creek Interceptor line runs from the Waste Water Treatment Plant on Gilkey Run Road (South 4th St.) up Town Creek by the Old Kentucky Home Park, along the Old Bloomfield Pike, through the Bardstown Community Park to the new subdivisions north of KY 245. This line generally serves eastern side of the Bardstown extending from Third Street north to the Louisville Road and northeast to neighborhoods along the Woodlawn Road and the American Greetings facilities.

The overflows are caused by a combination of population growth, inflow and infiltration of storm water and ground water into system through roof gutter drains, cracked lines, leaking manholes, and sewer lines that are no longer large enough to prevent intermittent, but chronic, overflows. On most days during the recent wet winter months, a few manholes overflow during the peak times of day. These overflows are reported to the Division of Water and are also listed on the City website.

The City is currently having a much larger sewer line put in parallel to the existing line that will take care of the flows far into the future. This sewer line project will cost about $4.0 million.

On March 19th, as a result of these chronic, yet intermittent, sewer overflows, the City received a notice of violation of the Agreed Order and fined an additional $5,000 by the Division of Water. The City has paid this fine and does not plan any appeal even though the number of overflows has been reduced to what we believe to be the minimum practical number and volume, given the conditions that are faced.

While we regret the amount of time it has taken to remedy this particular series of SSOs, we are committed to making the necessary improvements to our operations and to the sewer collection system to eliminate all sewer overflows and protect the public from the pollution that results from sewer system overflows. To this end we will be publishing a complete Sewer Improvement Plan that will outline the steps to be taken, a timeline for these steps, and the cost that will be incurred by our sewer customers to meet this obligation. The City will also give regular updates to the public regarding the status of these improvements especially on the website cited above.

Bardstown Sewer Department