City of Mount Vernon Receives $250,000 from State Flood Control Matching Grant Program

FRANKFORT, Ky. (December 14, 2018) – The Department for Local Government (DLG) has announced a $250,000 grant from the Flood Control Program to the City of Mount Vernon. The grant will fund improvements to the City of Mount Vernon’s Water Treatment Plant, which serves more than 85 percent of Rockcastle County.

“This project is slated to improve water quality for customers across the county, who have experienced a persistent taste and odor issue with drinking water,” DLG Commissioner Sandra K. Dunahoo said. “I commend Mount Vernon officials for their ongoing efforts to make drinking water cleaner for its residents and businesses.”

The majority of the city’s drinking water taste and odor issues stem from contaminates entering Lake Linville, which serves as the county’s main water supply. These contaminates contribute to seasonal algae blooms that result in high levels of geosmin and MIB compounds in the water supply.

The grant will allow the city to install a Power Activated Carbon (PAC) reactor basin, which will reduce the levels of taste- and odor-causing compounds to a manageable concentration. It is expected that this, combined with the remaining processes involved in water treatment, will produce drinking water free of taste and odor.

The total project cost is expected to be $1 million. In addition to the $250,000 DLG is contributing toward this project, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Section 531 is contributing $750,000.

“I’m pleased that the city is addressing what is both a water quality and environmental issue,” Sen. Jared Carpenter said. “I look forward to seeing how these changes affect quality of life in Mount Vernon.”


About the Flood Control Program

The Flood Control Program uses state bond funds as grants to help meet cost-share match requirements associated with flood mitigation projects funded by the U.S. Corps of Engineers, the Federal Emergency Agency (FEMA), the Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) and USDA Rural Development.

Examples of projects previously funded through the program include small dam reconstruction, acquisition of homes in flood-prone areas, debris removal and construction of floodwalls.

About the Department for Local Government

The Department for Local Government is an arm of the Office of the Governor dedicated to supporting local officials and communities. For more information, visit dlg.ky.gov.

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