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Lebanon to receive 10 MGD from Citizens pipeline; contractor Kokosing to begin work
Summary
Mayor Matt Gentry said agreements are finalized and Citizens will begin water main extensions in September; the plan calls for 2 million gallons per day (MGD) by Jan. 1, 2027 and an additional 8 MGD by Jan. 1, 2028, increasing the city’s system capacity from about 4.6 MGD to 14.6 MGD total.
What the city announced Mayor Matt Gentry said the city finalized agreements and financing earlier in the year for water main extensions with Citizens (the regional water provider) and expects construction to begin in September. The plan, as described in the interview, will deliver an additional 2 million gallons per day (MGD) to Lebanon by Jan. 1, 2027, and an additional 8 MGD by Jan. 1, 2028 — a total increase of about 10 MGD. Gentry said Lebanon’s current system capacity is about 4.6 MGD.
Contractors, facilities and route Gentry said the city selected contractor Kokosing to perform the work. The project includes new transmission mains, a new water tower and a booster station near the Citizens connection point by the Boone County Airport. He said crews will work along the west side of U.S. 65 and in easements along county roads to create a loop in the system.
Service, timing and project management The mayor told listeners the contractor and city consultants (Ryan Ottinger and John Leitner of Butler Fairman) coordinated phasing with projects already approved by the city so that those developments can proceed by the time water service is available. "When they turn that valve on on 01/01/2027, the water will be ready," Gentry said. He also said the contractor and consultants expect to meet project milestones but did not offer a firm contingency plan for delays.
Cost and rate impacts Gentry said the negotiated approach was designed to avoid a large rate increase for current ratepayers; he said that undertaking the project as a city alone could have required much larger rate hikes. He did not provide a total project cost in the interview.
End note Construction is expected to begin in September; the mayor said the pipeline will enable previously approved housing and commercial projects to move forward. The city will provide detailed engineering schedules and contractor milestones as the project advances.
