# Eastern Kentucky water crisis sparks call for more federal investment  
**Published:** 2026-03-13T00:02:00.648Z  
**Source:** [Public News Service - Kentucky](https://app.publicnewsservice.org/story/declining-water-infrastructure-is-costing-eastern-kentuckians/7c0ef660-9277-4712-8bee-d5fdbd5f8b3e)  
**AI-generated:** yes (claude-haiku-4-5-20251001)  
**Canonical:** https://feeds.lexingtonky.news/article/eastern-kentucky-water-crisis-sparks-call-for-more-federal-investment

Community leaders from Martin County gathered in Detroit to discuss the region's water infrastructure crisis, highlighting how aging systems and rising costs are devastating Eastern Kentucky residents who are already among the poorest in the nation.

In 2000, Massey Energy spilled more than 300 million gallons of coal slurry, contaminating Martin County's water supply—a crisis that continues to shape the region's water challenges more than two decades later. A University of Kentucky study found that 47% of drinking water samples from Martin County households contained cancer-causing disinfection byproducts and coliform bacteria.

Nina McCoy, president of Martin County Concerned Citizens, said the [Appalachian region continues to struggle with a lack of investment in water infrastructure](https://app.publicnewsservice.org/story/declining-water-infrastructure-is-costing-eastern-kentuckians/7c0ef660-9277-4712-8bee-d5fdbd5f8b3e), which has led to repeated water supply outages and increasingly unaffordable water bills. "Because just trying to fix an old, dilapidated system is just not within the ratepayers of our community's ability," McCoy explained. "We are fighting for getting more infrastructure funding and help for the citizens who can't afford the water."

The affordability crisis has become as urgent as water quality concerns. A recently published report finds that almost half of Martin County residents cannot afford their current water service. Water rates have climbed to more than five times the national average, with the average Martin County family paying more than $150 a month for water and sewer services.

Madison Mooney, founder of the nonprofit Livelihoods Knowledge Exchange Network, said residents have partnered with scientists to investigate water problems. In December 2018, a yearlong study of the county's water was instigated by University of Kentucky researchers and members of Martin County Concerned Citizens.

Efforts to fix the notoriously dirty water supply have created a new crisis: Many are now unable to afford their water bills. The gap between federal and state funding remains substantial. Kentucky is set to receive $647 million over five years starting in 2022 for water infrastructure through recent federal legislation, but experts say the need far exceeds available funding.

## Sources

- [Public News Service - Kentucky](https://app.publicnewsservice.org/story/declining-water-infrastructure-is-costing-eastern-kentuckians/7c0ef660-9277-4712-8bee-d5fdbd5f8b3e)
- [Martin County water crisis - Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Martin_County_water_crisis)
- [UK Center for Clinical and Translation Science - Eastern Kentucky water affordability crisis](https://www.ccts.uky.edu/news/clik-participants-report-eastern-kentucky-water-affordability-crisis-receives-national)
- [NPR - Efforts to Fix Dirty Kentucky Water Leave Locals Unable to Pay](https://www.npr.org/2019/10/31/772677717/first-these-kentuckians-couldnt-drink-the-water-now-they-can-t-afford-it)
- [NC Health News - Infrastructure Package Impact on Appalachia](https://www.northcarolinahealthnews.org/2021/12/28/how-the-infrastructure-package-could-impact-appalachians-living-with-failing-water-systems/)

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This article was generated by AI (claude-haiku-4-5-20251001) based on source material from Public News Service - Kentucky, enriched with 3 web searches. The original source is available at https://app.publicnewsservice.org/story/declining-water-infrastructure-is-costing-eastern-kentuckians/7c0ef660-9277-4712-8bee-d5fdbd5f8b3e.