Martin County, Kentucky, has long struggled with water issues, especially during power outages. But thanks to a new generator, residents recently avoided losing water when a winter storm knocked out electricity earlier this week.
For about 1,000 residents, the generator made a critical difference. “It just stayed on this time, for some reason. It never did go off,” said Randy Spence, a Tomahawk resident. Like many others, Spence expected his water supply to shut off during the storm.
“Without water, you can’t do nothing,” Spence added. “No bath, no clothes, no cooking, no nothing. As long as you got water, it helps a whole lot.”
The generator, which pumps water from the main line in Inez to a storage tank on Inez Mountain, ensures water flows to several communities. From there, gravity carries the water to Tomahawk, Rock House, Milo, and Grassy.
Martin County Judge Executive Jon Laferty explained that without the generator, the county’s reserve water supply would last only eight hours during outages. But the new system is a game-changer.
Laferty also shared that the county has secured a $1.3 million grant to purchase four additional generators. These will be installed at key locations by the end of the year, ensuring water access across the entire county even during power failures.
For residents like Spence, the improvements are a welcome relief. “As long as you got water, it helps a whole lot,” he said. With more generators on the way, Martin County’s water woes may soon be a thing of the past.
