Kentucky American Water Calls for Infrastructure Investment Following ASCE Report
Kentucky American Water president Robert Burton has identified a need for increased infrastructure funding after the ASCE gave the state's drinking water and wastewater systems low ratings.
Robert Burton, president of Kentucky American Water, has publicly addressed the recent American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE) report, which assigned a C+ to Kentucky’s drinking water and a D+ to its wastewater infrastructure. The company highlights these findings as an indicator of aging subterranean assets that require significant capital expenditure to maintain service reliability.
According to the utility, the grades reflect systemic challenges common to regional water providers, including the need to replace aging pipe networks and upgrade treatment facilities to meet current safety standards. The utility argues that proactive investment is necessary to prevent failures and manage the long-term cost of operations.
The statement serves as a call for state and municipal cooperation to secure financing for utility upgrades. While the ASCE report points to critical vulnerabilities, the company contends that a sustained funding strategy will be essential to improve infrastructure resilience across the state in the coming decade.