Harlan County to Receive $4 Million for Water Infrastructure Upgrades

Funding will help address aging pipes, boil-water advisories, and outages in the region

Published on Feb. 9, 2026

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Harlan County, Kentucky will receive $4 million in federal funding to rehabilitate its aging water infrastructure. The money, secured by U.S. Representative Hal Rogers, will be used to upgrade the Harlan City Municipal Waterworks and address other critical water system issues across the county. Local officials say the funding is a major step toward fixing chronic water problems that have plagued households and communities in the region.

Why it matters

Like many counties in eastern Kentucky, Harlan County has struggled with deteriorating water infrastructure, leading to frequent boil-water advisories, service outages, and financial strain on local utilities. This federal funding represents a significant investment to help address these long-standing challenges and ensure reliable, safe water service for residents and businesses.

The details

The $4 million will be split, with $2 million going to upgrades at the Harlan City Municipal Waterworks and the remaining $2 million used for rehabilitation of water lines experiencing systemic outages throughout the county. The Harlan City plant upgrades have been in the works since 2018 but were delayed due to the pandemic and inflation. The additional funding will help the project reach completion. The county-wide water line projects will focus on the most pressing needs to benefit the greatest number of people.

  • The $4 million in federal funding was recently appropriated by U.S. Representative Hal Rogers.
  • The funding was part of the Transportation, Housing and Urban Development Appropriations Bill signed into law by President Trump on February 3, 2026.

The players

Harlan County

A county in eastern Kentucky that has experienced chronic issues with aging, deteriorating water infrastructure leading to service disruptions and financial challenges for local utilities.

Hal Rogers

U.S. Representative for Kentucky's 5th Congressional District, who secured the $4 million in federal funding for water infrastructure upgrades in Harlan County.

Dan Mosley

Harlan County Judge-Executive, who said the federal funding is a major step toward fixing the county's long-standing water problems.

Harlan Municipal Water Works

The municipal water utility in Harlan, Kentucky that will receive $2 million for critical enhancements to its water system.

Black Mountain Utility District (BMUD)

A water district that purchases water from the Harlan Municipal Water Works and distributes it to communities from Baxter to Molus, serving around 2,700 customers.

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What they’re saying

“Quality water service is essential to our daily lives to live, work and raise a family. In the last several years, utilities in Harlan County have struggled with aging water infrastructure and the water woes that come with it.”

— Dan Mosley, Harlan County Judge-Executive (Harlan Enterprise)

“As water systems age and erode, our communities experience more line breaks and water outages that require more than a temporary fix. This funding will go a long way to secure water in Harlan County for years to come.”

— Hal Rogers, U.S. Representative (Harlan Enterprise)

What’s next

The Harlan County Fiscal Court will receive the $4 million and work to allocate the funds to the Harlan Municipal Water Works and other critical water rehabilitation projects across the county.

The takeaway

This federal investment represents a significant step forward in addressing Harlan County's longstanding water infrastructure challenges. However, local officials acknowledge that more regional cooperation and a comprehensive approach will be needed to achieve long-term stability and modernization of the county's water systems.