Inspired by a Tyler Childer’s concert/water drive, Carolyn Dupont is reaching out to the Jessamine County community for their help in gathering clean drinking water for residents in Martin County,

“This drive and its roots in the education community is very much in keeping with what educators do all the time, ensuring students have what they need to be successful,” Dupont said. “In this case, something as basic as healthy drinking water is crucial to the flourishing of students.”

Dupont said she hopes to collect several hundred cases of water through Jan. 17.

Cases of water can be dropped off from 8 to 10 a.m., and 4 to 5 p.m. at The Jessamine Journal office, located at 507 N. Main St.

Those who wish to donate can also do so by purchasing a case of water online via facebook.com/LesageNaturalWatee, which will be delivered directly to Martin County.

“Martin County is not the only Kentucky county facing water problems, but the issues there seem more acute and have received much attention,” Dupont said. “The pipes there are old and leaky so half the pipe water is lost and water that is delivered contains toxins including arsenic and mercury.”

Dupont said residents in Martin County say their water often comes out of the tap brown, orange and foul-smelling. 

Sometimes, Dupont reports, it doesn’t come out at all. 

The drive was initially started by an online group of educators, the Kentucky Teachers in the Know.

Adding bottled water to many of the family’s budgets creates a severe hardship, Dupont said.

“The problem has been at this acute level for several years and no long-term solution is in sight since the water district can’t afford to upgrade the pipes,” Dupont said.

Several counties in Kentucky are facing the same problem concerning water systems in need of upgrades, Dupont said. What is happening in Martin County could easily happen anywhere in the state.