Louisville – Kentucky – Water Quality Report 2025: PFAS Testing, Infrastructure Concerns & Safety across your city
Louisville Water Company provides drinking water services to nearly one million residents across the Louisville metropolitan area, including parts of Bullitt, Hardin, Nelson, Oldham, Shelby, and Spencer counties. Established in 1860 as Kentucky’s first public water provider, the system encompasses an extensive network of water distribution lines, treatment facilities, and pumping stations, delivering an average of 115 million gallons of drinking water daily to Kentucky’s largest city and surrounding communities.
Louisville Water sources its drinking water primarily from the Ohio River, with two treatment facilities processing the water through different methods. The Crescent Hill Water Treatment Plant treats water pumped directly from the Ohio River, while the B.E. Payne Water Treatment Plant utilizes an innovative riverbank filtration system that collects naturally pre-filtered groundwater from the aquifer adjacent to the river. Louisville’s water is renowned for its quality and taste, consistently meeting or exceeding all federal and state standards. The utility has implemented significant investments in advanced treatment technologies, infrastructure modernization, and source water protection to ensure sustainable water supply for future generations.
Louisville Water Quality: Current Status (2024-2025)
Latest Testing Results
- Comprehensive Monitoring: Louisville Water conducts approximately 200 water quality tests daily across the system, ensuring consistent monitoring at treatment facilities and throughout the distribution network for continued compliance with all federal and state standards.
- PFAS Compliance: The Louisville Water Company meets the EPA’s 2024 finalized drinking water standards for PFAS (per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances), maintaining levels well below regulatory thresholds in its treated drinking water.
- Disinfection Byproducts: Quarterly monitoring for disinfection byproducts throughout the distribution system confirms levels remain below EPA maximum contaminant levels, with enhanced treatment processes implemented to minimize formation.
Water Sources
- Ohio River: Primary source for Louisville’s drinking water, processing approximately 75 billion gallons flowing by Louisville daily, providing an abundant and reliable water supply even during drought conditions.
- Louisville Aquifer: Secondary source accessed through innovative riverbank filtration at the B.E. Payne Water Treatment Plant, providing naturally pre-filtered groundwater that requires less treatment and maintains a stable water temperature of approximately 55 degrees.
- Source Water Protection: Comprehensive source water management program including participation in the Ohio River Valley Water Sanitation Commission (ORSANCO) and maintaining a Source Water Assessment and Protection Plan (SWAPP) to address potential contamination sources.
Advanced Treatment Technology
- Crescent Hill Treatment Plant: The primary treatment facility utilizes a multi-step approach including coagulation to remove particles, sedimentation, filtration through anthracite coal and sand, and disinfection with chlorine and ammonia to eliminate waterborne pathogens.
- B.E. Payne Treatment Plant: This innovative facility incorporates riverbank filtration which naturally pre-filters water through sand and gravel layers in a 1.5-mile-long underground tunnel before additional treatment, improving water quality and reducing treatment requirements.
- Award-Winning Process: Louisville Water’s pioneering research in filtration dating back to the late 1800s provided the foundation for many water treatment practices used throughout the United States today, with both treatment plants ranked among the top 19 in North America.
Infrastructure Modernization
- Advanced Metering Infrastructure: Implementation of the AMI project began in 2020, with more than two-thirds of customers now benefiting from advanced water meters featuring wireless communication capabilities, allowing for improved monitoring and more efficient operations.
- Residual Line Project: Major infrastructure improvement involving replacement of the aging residual pipeline originally constructed in the 1970s with two new lines to transport treatment residuals from the Crescent Hill Water Treatment Plant to lagoons at the B.E. Payne facility.
- Systematic Maintenance: Proactive investment in infrastructure maintenance and upgrades, with approximately $59 million dedicated annually to pipes, treatment plants, elevated water tanks, and pumping stations to prevent costly emergency repairs.
Customer Protection Initiatives
Louisville Water provides extensive customer support through various programs, including educational outreach about water quality and conservation practices. The utility’s Pure Connect customer portal offers enhanced ability for customers to monitor their water usage and receive timely notifications. Louisville’s water, marketed as “Louisville Pure Tap®,” is renowned for its exceptional taste, winning national recognition. The utility has received the Sustainable Water Utility Management Award for its commitment to management that achieves a balance of innovative and successful efforts in economic, social, and environmental endeavors. Louisville Water’s ongoing investments in source water protection, advanced treatment technologies, and infrastructure modernization demonstrate its dedication to providing safe, high-quality drinking water while preparing for future challenges including population growth and emerging contaminants.
Recommendations for Louisville Residents
Monitor Your Usage
Take advantage of Louisville Water’s Pure Connect portal to monitor your water consumption in real-time. This tool helps detect potential leaks early and provides insights into your water usage patterns for better conservation.
Conserve Water
Implement water conservation measures at home by fixing leaks promptly, installing water-efficient fixtures, and adopting smart landscaping practices. Every drop saved helps ensure sustainable water resources for the Louisville community.
Consider Home Filtration
While Louisville’s water meets all standards, homes with older plumbing may benefit from NSF-certified filters (Standard 53) for drinking and cooking water, especially for reducing disinfection byproducts and trace contaminants like PFAS.
Support Source Water Protection
Participate in community initiatives through the Louisville Water Foundation that support watershed protection and water education programs. Volunteer opportunities are available for creek cleanups and educational events focused on water conservation.
Report Issues
Contact Louisville Water Customer Care at 502-569-3600 (available 24/7) for water main breaks, pressure problems, or quality concerns. Report leaks promptly to help conserve water and maintain system integrity throughout the Louisville service area.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Louisville’s tap water safe to drink?
Yes, Louisville’s tap water meets all federal and state drinking water standards. The city’s water comes from the Ohio River and the Louisville Aquifer, both of which undergo comprehensive treatment including multiple filtration processes and disinfection.
Louisville Water conducts approximately 200 tests daily to ensure water quality. Treatment processes at both the Crescent Hill and B.E. Payne plants incorporate multiple barriers against contaminants, ensuring safe drinking water. The utility’s commitment to water quality is demonstrated by its continuous monitoring and transparent reporting through monthly and annual water quality reports available to all customers.
How does Louisville treat Ohio River water?
Louisville Water uses two distinct treatment processes depending on the source:
1. Crescent Hill Water Treatment Plant: Uses traditional surface water treatment with coagulation to clump small particles, sedimentation to remove particles, filtration through anthracite coal and sand, and disinfection with chlorine and ammonia.
2. B.E. Payne Water Treatment Plant: Utilizes innovative riverbank filtration where the surrounding aquifer naturally pre-filters groundwater through sand and gravel. A 1.5-mile-long underground tunnel collects this water before additional treatment.
Both treatment plants are ranked among the top facilities in North America, with Louisville’s water winning taste competitions and earning the nickname “Louisville Pure Tap®” due to its exceptional quality.
What about PFAS in Louisville’s water?
Louisville Water meets the EPA’s 2024 finalized regulatory standards for PFAS chemicals in drinking water:
• Ongoing monitoring: Louisville Water has been monitoring PFAS in source and finished water for over a decade, making it well-positioned to address these emerging contaminants.
• Treatment approach: The utility utilizes activated carbon as part of its treatment process, which has been shown to be effective in reducing PFAS compounds.
• Source reduction: While Louisville Water does not contribute to these contaminants in source water, it supports actions to minimize these chemicals entering the Ohio River.
• Exposure context: According to EPA estimates, more than 80% of human exposure to PFAS chemicals comes from consumer goods rather than drinking water.
Louisville Water continues research on treatment options to reduce PFAS levels even lower than current detections and participates in EPA’s monitoring programs for unregulated contaminants.
What infrastructure projects is Louisville Water working on?
Louisville Water is currently implementing several major infrastructure initiatives:
Advanced Metering Infrastructure (AMI):
• Project began in 2020 with more than two-thirds of customers now having advanced meters with wireless communication capabilities
• Enables monthly billing, remote meter reading, and enhanced customer monitoring of water usage through the Pure Connect portal
Residual Line Project:
• Major replacement of aging infrastructure originally constructed in the 1970s with two new lines to transport treatment residuals
• Multi-phase project along River Road expected to be completed within two years
Louisville Water invests approximately $59 million annually in infrastructure maintenance and upgrades for pipes, treatment plants, elevated water tanks, and pumping stations throughout its service area.
Contaminants of Concern
Disinfection Byproducts
Source: Formed when disinfectants such as chlorine or chloramine react with naturally occurring organic matter in source water; may be more prevalent during warmer months or periods of higher organic content in the Ohio River.
Health Effects: Long-term exposure to elevated levels may increase risk of certain cancers and potentially affect liver, kidney, and central nervous system functions according to EPA health advisories.
Current Levels: Monitored quarterly throughout the distribution system with levels maintained below EPA maximum contaminant levels EPA Limits: 80 ppb for total trihalomethanes (TTHMs) and 60 ppb for haloacetic acids (HAA5).
PFAS Compounds
Source: Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances originating from industrial processes, firefighting foams, and consumer products that can enter the Ohio River watershed. Most PFAS exposure (over 80%) comes from consumer products rather than drinking water.
Health Effects: Research suggests potential concerns including impacts on immune system, thyroid function, cholesterol levels, and possible links to certain cancers with long-term exposure to elevated levels.
Current Status: Louisville Water meets the EPA’s 2024 finalized regulatory standards for six regulated PFAS compounds. The utility has been monitoring PFAS for over a decade and continues research on treatment options to reduce levels even further. EPA Limits: Vary by specific PFAS compound with individual standards for PFOA and PFOS and a Hazard Index for four other PFAS chemicals.
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