Nola Sizemore

Staff Writer

Benham’s water treatment plant was recognized by the Kentucky Energy and Environment Cabinet as one of 49 water treatment plants in Kentucky who demonstrated success in producing drinking water in 2011 that consistently met or exceeded state water quality standards. Benham’s water system met their goals 95 percent of the time in 2011.

In a press release from the Energy and Environment Cabinet, the 49 systems honored are among 155 public and private water treatment plants in the state that participated in the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s Area-Wide Optimization Program (AWOP). The program challenges plants to reduce turbidity levels below those required by state and federal regulations. Turbidity, or cloudiness, of water can be caused by sand and dirt, as well as bacteria and viruses. Particle removal is critical for producing water that is free of dirt and microbes that can cause waterborne diseases.

“Together, these 49 systems serve more than a million Kentuckians who can be assured that their water treatment systems are committed to producing safe drinking water from Kentucky’s lakes, rivers and reservoirs,” said Julie Roney, coordinator of the Division of Water Drinking Water Program in the press release. “The operators and staff of these plants deserve our recognition and our gratitude for making the technical, managerial and financial improvements to their operations that allow them to continue to provide clean drinking water to the public.”

Benham Mayor John Dodd said, “I think this is a great honor. Our people at the water plant, Tim Allison and Scotty Shields, both strive to make sure the city of Benham has drinking water that is rated one of the highest standards in the state and that’s a great honor.”

Dodd said when he coached football he remembered how good it felt to be chosen all-state.

“That’s, basically, what Tim and Scotty have done up there at the water plant,” said Dodd. “I’m proud of them. They strive to see that Clutts, Freeman Bottom and Benham have, not only adequate drinking water, but water that meets some of the highest standards in the state.”

Reach Nola Sizemore at 606-573-4510 or at nsizemore@heartlandpublications.com