Should the city of Lexington be successful in purchasing Kentucky American Water, Owen County would be interested in purchasing the portion of the company currently located here.

But Owen County probably couldn’t buy back the water lines that Kentucky American owns here. During the last several years, the Lexington-based water company has purchased the Tri-Village Water District, the Elk Lake Water District, and most recently, the Owenton Water District.

“Realistically, we can’t purchase it back,” said Owen County Judge-Executive Billy O’Banion. O’Banion was appointed to a committee to look into the feasibility of Lexington purchasing Kentucky American. RWE, a German utility conglomerate, announced recently that it would sell American Waters Works, the New Jersey-based parent company of Kentucky American. “I personally am satisfied with the service we’ve received from Kentucky American. But I made that statement to let them know that I don’t want to be involved in Fayette County’s decisions and I don’t want them to be involved in ours.”

Georgetown has also expressed interest in purchasing its portion of the water company if a purchase is made by Fayette County.

The city council sent a letter to Lexington earlier this month indicating it is interested in purchasing its portion of the water district should Lexington be allowed to own the water company. The Georgetown Municipal Water & Sewer Service wants to purchase the water lines in Scott County.

The committee, chaired by former Lexington Mayor Scotty Baesler, was put into place in case American Water decided it would “piecemeal” the different parts of the company. Baesler, in a meeting last week, said he thinks it’s important for the city to be “in the game” and ready to move if that’s the case.

But O’Banion said he didn’t think American Water would sell separately the different divisions of the company. Under that scenario, Lexington would have to buy California American, West Virginia American and Kentucky America in order to own the local portion of the company.

“I don’t think that’s going to happen,” O’Banion said, adding that despite that, it’s important for Owen County residents to have a voice on the committee so that the needs of the community can be considered as the project moves forward.

Should Lexington be able to buy Kentucky American, O’Banion said requests would be made to assess the value of Kentucky American’s systems in counties outside Fayette. The water company currently has facilities in Owen, Scott, Harrison and Jessamine counties.

The next meeting of the group is at 1 p.m. Thursday in Lexington.

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