In the words of Perry Newcom, things are “definitely getting better” in Marion.
Crittenden County’s judge-executive gave a poignant update during Monday’s Pennyrile Area Development District conclave, in which the long-time leader thanked PADD members for spending the last few weeks donating time — and water — to the cause.
Newcom said the partnership between the Division of Water, the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet, the Kentucky National Guard, Kentucky Emergency Management, Gov. Andy Beshear and his team, and many others has made a difference in this crisis — which two months ago looked more than dire.
Since then, Newcom said the last few weeks have been spent, among many things, repairing leaks to Marion’s existing water infrastructure. It’s an effort that has allowed Marion residents, businesses and municipalities to save the water supply they do have, and Newcom noted the repairs have repossessed what could’ve been losses of nearly 200,000 gallons per day.
The Crittenden-Livingston Water District has been supporting Marion with roughly 144,000 gallons of water per day through its channels, but Newcom said a recent leak in that system actually turned out to be “a blessing.”
Courtesy of some major assistance from the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet, Newcom said that the expected interconnection with Sturgis in Union County is “getting ready to take place,” in what is one of the many steps necessary for the City of Marion to move from short-term to long-term solutions.
Critical rainfall has also finally come to the Crittenden County region and the Tradewater River watershed. KY Mesonet reports more than eight inches of rain fell in different parts of the county in July, though not all of that went to the city’s key reservoir in Old City Lake.
More than three inches of rain fell in the opening week of August, with more expected in the coming days.