Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear has awarded $11.8 million to the Lexington-Fayette Urban County Government (LFUCG), the second recipient of funding from the Better Kentucky Plan’s $250 million Cleaner Water Program. The program will deliver clean drinking water and improve water and sewer systems across the state, creating approximately 3,800 jobs.

LFUCG will use the funding to replace the current chlorine gas disinfection process used at the Town Branch and West Hickman wastewater treatment plants to prevent the spread of waterborne diseases in treated wastewater. Instead, the plant will use a new ultraviolet disinfectant system to treat the water for harmful microorganisms before it is discharged back into water bodies.

Wastewater is used water, including sewage, commonly originating from residential or commercial sources. Replacing chlorine improves safety by eliminating toxic gas exposure risks to employees and the community and reduces the potential for byproducts to form in drinking water supplies.

For more information, visit www.kentucky.gov.