Livingston Faces Water Service Disruption Amid Payment Dispute

Livingston, KY – Residents of Livingston are experiencing significant water service disruptions due to allegations that the city has failed to pay its water bill to the Wood Creek Water District. The situation has escalated, leaving some without water since Tuesday afternoon.

Oscar Gibbons, a local resident, expressed frustration over the outage, stating, “We pay our water bills, but the city can’t pay theirs. There’s something wrong somewhere.” Lawrence Thayer, another resident, also highlighted concerns, questioning, “Where is that money?” as he feared his water service could be cut off next.

The disruption is not isolated; two officials from Rockcastle County have echoed claims that Livingston has fallen behind in its payments, estimated at $6,000 per payment. A post on the city of Livingston’s official Facebook page, which has since been removed, attributed this issue to mismanagement by previous administrations.

As of Thursday, the city administration shifted the blame towards Kentucky American Water, suggesting that the supplier was responsible for the outages. In response, a spokesperson from Kentucky American Water clarified that while some pumps were turned off, it was due to a lack of water flow, a necessary measure to protect their equipment. They reiterated that the core issue lies between Livingston and the Wood Creek Water District, based in London.

The mayor of Livingston has refrained from making public statements but continues to point fingers at Kentucky American Water. Regardless of the cause, local residents are anxious about the ongoing situation and are seeking urgent answers.

In the meantime, Kentucky American Water has begun distributing bottled water to affected residents. Gibbons commented, “If it was summertime, we could go down to the creek to take a bath, or whatever. This time of the year they are giving out bottled water.” Residents appreciate the temporary relief provided by the bottled water, yet long-term solutions are urgently needed.

The Public Service Commission has opened an investigation into the water service disruption. Additionally, after discussions with the Kentucky Infrastructure Authority, the Rockcastle County Judge-Executive announced that a partial payment deal has been reached, and efforts to restore water service began late Thursday afternoon. Officials expect the situation to fully resolve within four to six weeks.

As this situation unfolds, Livingston residents remain hopeful for a swift resolution to restore their water services and provide clarity on their city’s financial management.