A new water treatment plant in Owen County is on schedule to begin pumping water to Central Kentucky by the end of the week, Kentucky American Water announced Monday.

The plant, which sits on U.S. 127 near the Franklin County line, will be able to deliver 6 million to 20 million gallons of water a day, said Kentucky American spokeswoman Susan Lancho.

The water will be brought into the distribution system via a 31-mile underground main that has already been completed.

The plant is in start-up mode now, meaning tests are being conducted to ensure that all plant components are working properly.

The plant, water main and a booster pump station in Franklin County cost $164 million and are intended to address a water supply deficit in Central Kentucky. The project was built to make sure that the region has plenty of water for at least the next 20 to 30 years, even during a drought, a news release stated.