Water quality standards are the foundation of the water quality-based approach to pollution control, including Total Maximum Daily Loads and National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System permits. Standards are also a fundamental component of watershed management.

The public listening sessions will be held via audio teleconferences on August 24 and 26, 2010, from 1 p.m. to 2:30 p.m. EDT. At the sessions, EPA will provide a review of the current regulation and a summary of the revisions the agency is considering. Clarifying questions and brief oral comments (three minutes or less) from the public will be accepted at the sessions, as time permits. EPA will consider the comments received as it develops the proposed rulemaking.

EPA will also hold separate listening sessions for state, tribal and local governments.

EPA expects to publish the proposed revisions to the water quality standards regulation in summer 2011.

More information: http://www.epa.gov/waterscience/standards/rules/wqs/

The President’s action makes federal funding available to affected individuals in Pike County. Assistance can include grants for temporary housing and home repairs, low-cost loans to cover uninsured property losses, and other programs to help individuals and business owners recover from the effects of the disaster.

Federal funding also is available to Commonwealth and eligible local governments and certain private nonprofit organizations on a cost-sharing basis for emergency work and the repair or replacement of facilities damaged by the severe storms, flooding, and mudslides in Pike County.

Federal funding is also available on a cost-sharing basis for hazard mitigation measures Commonwealth-wide.

Douglas G. Mayne was named as the Federal Coordinating Officer for federal recovery operations in the affected area.  Mayne said that damage surveys are continuing in other areas, and additional counties may be designated for assistance after the assessments are fully completed.

Residents and business owners who sustained losses in the designated counties can begin applying for assistance tomorrow by registering online at /www.DisasterAssistance.gov or by calling 1-800-621-FEMA(3362) or 1-800-462-7585 (TTY) for the hearing and speech impaired. The toll-free telephone numbers will operate from 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. (local time).

» More Information on Kentucky Severe Storms, Flooding, and Mudslides

Gov. Beshear also signed an executive order today to trigger the price gouging statutes that protect consumers from unscrupulous businesses that attempt to artificially inflate prices as a result of the emergency.

The executive order will allow for investigation into any complaints of price gouging that may occur relative to gas, heating, building supplies, hotels and other goods and services in the aftermath of the weekend’s storms.

Weather reports indicate as much as six inches of rain has fallen on parts of northeast Kentucky.   The Little Sandy River is rising and expected to crest above flood stage in Grayson. American Electric Power reports approximately 566 customers in Letcher, Carter and Lewis counties are currently without power. Approximately 400 Lewis County homes are currently without water.

In Carter County, a shelter operated by the Salvation Army has opened at Grahn Community Center. Early estimates indicate that 50 to 60 homes in Carter County were affected by the floods, approximately 20 of which are destroyed. Eight roads are currently underwater in Fleming County. KY-57 is closed at the Fleming-Lewis county line and multiple roads are closed in the Laurel Camp Dix area in Lewis County. Forty homes in Rowan County have been flooded, two of which have been destroyed. At least 100 cars were flooded, and 20 county bridges and 20 private bridges with approaches have been washed out.

Officials expect the amount of damages to increase as water recedes in the impacted counties, as emergency workers and local officials will be able to reach areas previously under water and hope to have a better assessment on the extent of damage.

These latest floods came just days after heavy thunderstorms hit Pike and Shelby counties.  Two fatalities are attributed to the Pike County storms. Gov. Steve Beshear declared states of emergency for both counties over the weekend.  Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) assessment teams have been working to evaluate damages in Pike County for two days, which will expedite the process for applying for any applicable federal assistance.

Pike County updates

Local, state and federal damage assessment teams continue assessing the property damage in Pike County.

In Pike County, 2,400 residents remain without water and much of the county remains on boil water advisories. Volunteers are taking drinking water to impacted areas, and water distribution points have been established throughout the county. Three shelters are open in the area.

Safety Tips

Kentuckians are encouraged to monitor weather (www.weather.com) for their areas and heed warnings or evacuation orders from local officials. Do not drive through or wade through any water, no matter if just a few inches.  STOP, TURN AROUND – DON’T DROWN!

Do not attempt to enter flooded structures unless a certified electrician has shut off the power.

For additional information and safety tips, please visit KyEM’s website at www.kyem.ky.gov.

Be aware of toxic or hazardous wastes associated with flood waters.  For additional information on health safety tips and flood water clean-up, please visit the Department for Public Health’s website at www.chfs.ky.gov/dph/.

For statewide road conditions please visit www.511.ky.gov .

For local information and or shelter locations, please contact your local emergency management office. Follow this link for assistance: http://www.kyem.ky.gov/about/countyemdirectors.htm .

For river levels and expected crests, visit http://water.weather.gov/ahps/ and click on the area you wish to observe.

For additional information on this and other Kentucky disasters, please visit www.kyem.ky.gov .

“This award reinforces our commitment to environmental stewardship and education.  Warren Water recognized the need for an educational campaign related to the environment and our most precious natural resource, encouraging community involvement to protect our water sources,” stated General Manager Alan Vilines.

The AWWA Kentucky/Tennessee Section is one of 43 sections of the American Water Works Association, an elite group of professionals who strive to create the best solution based approaches in the supply and protection of drinking water.  Entries were judged by a panel of communication professionals based on criteria including objectives, originality of strategy, effective use of labor hours and budget, skill and creativity of campaign and extent to which objectives were achieved.

Susan Lancho, chair of the AWWA Kentucky/Tennessee Section’s public information committee stated, “Our annual public information awards program is a great opportunity to recognize the quality efforts of water utilities throughout Kentucky and Tennessee to educate consumers about drinking water issues and the environment.  We commend this year’s award recipients for their quality work as well as their commitment to the water utility industry and the customers they serve.”

“Be Green to Keep Blue Clean” campaign components included school presentations, an essay/poster contest along with a media blitz to reach the community with focus on elementary school students.  Community Relations Coordinator Dana Matukas is pleased with the success of the campaign.  “Thanks to the strength of community partnerships, Warren Water joined forces with Drive to a Million, Aluminum Can Recycling Program to provide joint elementary school presentations reaching over 3,200 students within three weeks.   The message included a broad overview of the vital role water plays in our daily lives and practicing the three R’s of being Green – REDUCE, REUSE and RECYCLE.  The responses from area educators were very positive with encouragement to return in 2011.”

“Warren Water continues to show strength among its peers in the water industry with continued acknowledgements for superior work,” added Henry Honaker, chairmen of the Warren County Water District’s Board of Commissioners.  “Warren Water professionals understand the importance of education and protecting our most vital natural resource.

About Warren County Water District

Warren Water is a public water and wastewater utility serving a blend of residential, agricultural, commercial and industrial customers.  An average 6.4 million gallons of water each day is transported to approximately 24,000 customers along with 4,000 wastewater service customers.  To ensure reliable service, Warren Water maintains more than 1,000 miles of pipeline along with 31 pumping stations and 28 storage tanks throughout a 530-square-mile area.

Visit www.warrenwater.com to learn more about Warren County Water District.

Below is important information about where to get water, where to donate products or money, and numbers to call for assistance:

Water Distribution Points

• Feds Creek Fire Department
• Ferrells Creek Fire Department
• Millard Fire Department
• Lookout Fire Department
• Marrowbone Fire Department
• Johns Creek Fire Department
• Elkhorn City Fire Department
• Kimper Fire Department
• Phelps Fire Department
• Grapevine Fire Department

Shelters

• Pike Central High School
• Pikeville Homeless Shelter
• Cedar Bottom Church at Kimper
• Pike County Health Department

Requests for Damage Assessments for Property, Homes, and Businesses

• 606-437-4126 or 606-432-0210

To Donate Non-Perishable Food Items:

• Deliver Items to the Eastern Kentucky Exposition Center – These items will then be distributed to the needed locations

To Donate Clothing Items:

• Please take items to Goodwill or Helpful Hands

To make Monetary Donations:

• Contact the Red Cross at 606-339-5911
• Contact the Christian Appalachian Project at 606-308-9234

• Check toilets for silent leaks by putting a few drops of food coloring in the tank; if the color shows up in the bowl indicating a leak, fixing it may be as simple as replacing the toilet’s flapper.
• Twist on a WaterSense labeled bathroom faucet aerator to use 30 percent less water without a noticeable difference in flow.
• Replace a showerhead with a WaterSense labeled model that uses less water and energy, but still has all the power of a water-hogging model.

WaterSense, a partnership program sponsored by EPA, seeks to protect the future of our nation’s water supply by offering people a simple way to use less water with water-efficient products, new homes and services. In 2009, EPA’s WaterSense program helped consumers save more than 36 billion gallons of water and $267 million on their water and sewer bills.

More information on the We’re for Water road trip: http://www.epa.gov/watersense/wereforwater
To take the “I’m for Water pledge:” http://www.epa.gov/watersense/pledge
To learn about water-saving tips: http://www.facebook.com/EPAWatersense

“All water companies have pump stations and pipe in the ground,” said Michael L. Bell, Chairman of the Board of Commissioners for the Water District.  “What makes our Water District great is the employees.  I am proud that our employees had the opportunity to compete at this level and come away with the distinction of being the “Best of the Best.”

Clem Wethington has registered for the Webinar and has arranged with the Wood Creek Water District to host a viewing of the Webinar at their office in London. They will be inviting some of their neighboring utilities to participate as well.

Information for Public Water Systems & State Drinking Water Programs

Wednesday, July 14, 2010
1:00 P.M. – 3.00 P.M. EDT

The goals of this webinar are to:

• Understand energy challenges and energy efficiency opportunities in the water sector
• Understand energy efficiency best practices (conservation measures)
• Inform State programs and PWSs on what water systems can do to improve energy performance and to achieve energy cost savings
• Offer tools and resources to help system owners and operators adopt best industry practices

To register, please visit:
https://www2.gotomeeting.com/register/580468067

In order to attend the Web Cast you will need to register in advance. Space is limited so we encourage you to attend in groups using one internet connection.

The award recognizes the water company for receiving the organization’s “Directors Award” each year for the past decade. The Directors Award is given to water utilities that complete a review and provide customers with drinking water that exceeds federal standards, according to a news release.

The Louisville Water Co. was one of 32 U.S. water utilities that received the Ten-Year Directors Award, according to the release.

The Partnership for Safe Water was developed by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and other water organizations. It represents more than 200 water utilities nationwide that serve more than 85 million people.

The Louisville Water Co. serves more than 780,000 people in Louisville Metro, as well as parts of Bullitt, Oldham, Shelby, Spencer and Hardin counties in Kentucky.

Additional information about the Louisville Water Co. is available at www.louisvillewater.com.

Read more: Louisville Water Co. recognized for water quality – Business First of Louisville