Kentucky American Water, a water utility that provides water and wastewater services, has inaugurated a new water treatment facility, Kentucky River Station II, in Owen County, addressing Central Kentucky's water supply deficit.

The $164m Central Kentucky water supply station, along with a new booster pump station in Franklin County, will withdraw water from the Kentucky River and deliver treated water to Central Kentucky customers through a 31-mile underground water transmission pipeline.

The plant, which has taken a little more than two years of construction by contractors Reynolds-Rogers, PAE & Associates and Garney Construction, can be expanded to meet other communities’ water supply needs.

Kentucky American Water president Nick Rowe said that plant will be able to alleviate drought concerns for Lexington and central Kentucky for the next 20 to 30 years.