Rural drinking water at risk under controversial Kentucky bill

Formorethan30years,MontanaHobbs’familyfarminLeeCountyhasreliedonwaterthatflowsupfromunderground,feedingfivenaturalspringsontheirland. “Citywaterdoesn’treachmyparents’property,andIhighlydoubtthatiteverwill,”Hobbssaid.“Weliveprettyfaroutinthecounty.” Herfathersetupapumphouseandanearlymile-longwaterlinethatrunsfromoneofthespringsdowntotheirhome.Itsupplieswaterfordrinking,livestock,irrigation–whatevertheyneed.Hobbsswingsbyoftentofillupjugsofdrinkingwaterforherownhome. “Wehavehadreliablewaterforalongtime.Imean,truly,theonlythingthatwehavetoworryaboutisreallycoldtemperatures,”shesaid.“Hehasitsetupreallywell.” ButHobbsisworriedaboutanewpotentialthreattotheirwatersupply:SenateBill89.Thelegislationwouldlargely,ifnotentirely,stopthestategovernmentfromregulatingpollutioningroundwater,whichfillstheirfarm’sspringsandprovidesdrinkingwaterformanyotherKentuckians. TheKentuckyCenterforInvestigativeReportinganalyz