What I learned about WATER in Meade County
Updated: Sep 20
On September 9th, Susan Doman, Tom Hollis, and I met with the General Manager of the Meade County Water District, Brett Pyles. Since all three of us are currently running for local office, we decided we needed to learn more about our water supply in Meade County.
Water is a BIG DEAL in Meade County! Who has access to municipal water lines? Why do some households in Meade County still rely on cisterns and have to haul their own water? Who determines the water priorities in our county? Our list of questions for Mr. Pyles was quite lengthy. However, he was extremely open and happy to sit down with us and try to answer all of our questions.
I left this meeting with the realization that providing water to an entire county is quite complicated. I was also very impressed with how much the Meade County Water District (MCWD) accomplishes with a staff of only eleven employees. While I still have a lot to learn, I will try to highlight the information I believe would be most useful to the residents of Meade County.
1) Who should I contact if I have a concern about my water or even just a question about water in general?
Brett Pyles, General Manager
Office: (270) 422-5006 (Office hours are Monday - Friday from 8:15AM - 4:15PM.)
Mobile: (270)766-9477
email: bpyles@meadewaterky.gov
website: meadewaterky.gov
When an issue or request about water is shared with Brett, he completes a work order. These work orders help to determine the water needs in our county and prioritize water projects.
2) Who determines how much I am charged for my water?
Believe it or not, the Meade County Water District has no control over the price of your water. Why not? MCWD is a non-profit organization and does not have the authority to set the rates for the water they provide. Instead, the PSC (Public Service Commission) is responsible for setting the rates. The PSC determines the rate per gallon that MCWD must charge and also the cost for any service calls. MCWD is not an investor-owned utility, so there are no shareholders or motives to make a profit. Instead, any surplus money at the end of each fiscal year is reinvested in MCWD for upgrades and needed water projects.
3) Who makes decisions concerning the operation of the Meade County Water District?
The Meade County Water District Board of Directors controls and manages our water district. The five current members are:
Chairman Doug Cornett
Vice Chairman: Wesley Prather
Treasurer: Allen Stivers
Commissioner: Rick Myers
Secretary: Keith Booth
General Manager: Brett Pyles
Board Members are appointed by the County Judge Executive and serve four year terms.
The Meade County Water District Board meets the fourth Tuesday of every month at 1003 Armory Place in Brandenburg, KY. These meetings are open to the public.
4) Does the Meade County Water District supply water to homes and businesses inside Brandenburg city limits?
No. The Meade County Water District supplies water to homes and businesses in the county only. MCWD purhases wholesale water primarily from Hardin County Water District No. 1. The city of Brandenburg has its own water treatment plant and provides water within the city limits, including to Nucor and Doe Valley.
5) Where does the money come from for new water projects or updates in our existing water infrastructure?
Most water projects in our county are funded through grants from the state or federal government. If a grant cannot be secured for a needed project, then the MCWD can borrow money to complete the project. However, for every million dollars borrowed by MCWD, it must raise the monthly bill for ALL its customers by $1. This is why MCWD works so hard to qualify for as many grants as possible.
6) If municipal water lines are brought to my area, how much will it cost for me to hook up to these water lines?
Currently, it costs $1,200 to hook up to MCWD water lines. The homeowner will also have to get a plumbing permit and then hire their own plumber to run the water lines from the hook up point to their home.
Plumbing permits are obtained through the state:
Plumbing Inspector: Dale Osborne (270) 832-3269
7) How much will my monthly water bill be if I hook up to MCWD water lines?
Currently, the minimum monthly charge is $32.50 for up to 2,000 gallons per month.
This increases to $54 for up to 4,000 gallons per month.
NOTE: If you live within Brandenburg city limits, here is a link with contact information for all your utilities provided by the city of Brandenburg ...
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