Case Study Of The Drinking Water And Waste Water In Applachia Analysis

3.2 Kentucky and West Virginia Case Study

The Drinking Water and Wastewater in Appalachia Analysis (2005) included a case study that described the problem of wastewater treatment and straight pipe discharges in the Appalachian Region. The study stated that even in communities served by public water systems, many of the systems have undersized, aging lines and treatment facilities and are hard-pressed to supply the existing population cluster, let alone to broaden coverage to a dispersed rural population (O’Dell, 2005). In numerous areas a declining customer base for water utilities, the result of emigration from central Appalachia to areas of the nation with better economic opportunities precludes sufficient revenues to upgrade or expand service.

Entire towns and rural households that lack wastewater treatment systems discharge raw wastewater directly into rivers and streams through open lines known as “straight pipes.” (O’Dell, 2005). The lack of proper wastewater disposal promotes environmental degradation and creates potential health hazards, including contamination of drinking water sources.

The study also noted that the problems of water supply and wastewater disposal are inextricably linked. Providing public water system service to self-supplied households without sewer connections greatly increases domestic

Harlan County region has historically been a coal mining area located in the heart of the Cumberland Mountains, which is characterized by moderate to steep hillsides and narrow valleys. Large open tracts of land are minimal, which places constraints on wastewater treatment options (EPA, 2004). Consequently, small-scale wastewater package plants are prevalent. Path Fork, Cawood, and Evarts cities are located along tributaries of the upper Cumberland River and each had numerous examples of “straight-pipe” discharges (EPA