Staff Report

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) recently announced the winners of the 2011 Region 4 Consumer Confidence Report Excellence Awards. Three of the six categories were won by Kentucky systems.

One of the Kentucky systems that won an award was the Fonde Water System in Pineville. The Fonde system won in the small ground water system category, which are systems that serve fewer than 3,300 customers.

According to Pineville Utility Manager Bill Bunch, the water system only services 25 customers.

“I am very pleased that Fonde is being recognized,” said Bunch. “They are being put up as an example for all other small water systems. It’s really a feather in Fonde’s cap.”

Pineville Mayor Sherwin Rader stated she is very proud of the work Pineville Utilities does. “Pineville Utility does a great job,” said Rader.

The U.S. EPA requires community water systems to put annual drinking water quality reports into the hands of their customers annually in the belief that the public has a right to know about local environmental information.

While water systems are free to enhance their reports in any useful way, each report must notify customers of sources used, any detected contaminants, compliance with regulations and education information.

The reports are also useful tools to promote public participation in protecting water sources, said Kentucky’s top water official.

“Educated consumers are more likely to help protect drinking water sources and to be more understanding of the need to upgrade the treatment facilities to keep their drinking water safe,” said Sandy Gruzesky, director of the Kentucky Division of Water. “I applaud these three water utilities for their achievements and commitment to their customers.”

The other two Kentucky water systems that won Consumer Confidence Report Excellence Awards were the Cynthiana Municipal Water Works, which won in the medium surface water system category, and the Calvert City Municipal Water Department, which won in the medium ground water system category.