Bardstown Municipal Water Department

The Bardstown Municipal Water Division is proud to present our annual water quality report. This comprehensive assessment is designed to inform you about the quality of water and services we deliver to your home each day. Our team is committed to providing customers with safe, reliable water supplies through continuous system improvements and resource protection.

2017 Service Improvements:

• Completed upgrades to backwash supply line at Water Treatment Plant
• Enhanced disinfection systems at filter tops
• Conducted maintenance on Hurstland Water Tank
• Participated in Kentucky Division of Water professional workshops
• Began Filter Unit #2 underdrain repairs (completed Spring 2018)
• Replaced aging water lines on Flaget St, N. Fourth St, Sylvan Dr, and Hurstland Dr
• Completed design for conversion from chlorine to chloramine disinfection (construction began Spring 2018)

Protecting Our Water Resources

Water is our community's most essential resource. We ask all residents to help protect our water sources and infrastructure. Please report any suspicious activity around storage tanks, hydrants, pumping stations, or Sympson Lake to local law enforcement or City Hall. Informed consumers are vital partners in maintaining safe water supplies.

We encourage public participation in decisions affecting our water. City Council meetings are held on the second and fourth Tuesdays at 7:00 PM at the Town Annex Building, 116 North Fifth Street. For more information, contact Jessica Filiatreau (502-348-5947) or Don Wilson (502-348-3064).

Water Safety Information

You can help protect our water supply by:

• Reducing lawn fertilizer and pesticide use
• Cleaning up after pets
• Properly disposing of chemicals and automotive products
• Safely discarding unused medications
• Joining local watershed protection groups
• Remembering that storm drains lead directly to waterways
• Keeping livestock away from streams

Lead Information: Lead levels in Bardstown's water system have consistently tested below action levels. Due to treatment changes, we'll return to regular testing frequency in 2018. Bardstown is fortunate to have no lead pipes in its public distribution system.

Some people may be more vulnerable to water contaminants than the general population. Those with compromised immune systems, including cancer patients undergoing treatment, transplant recipients, people with HIV/AIDS, elderly individuals, and infants may face higher risks. These individuals should consult their healthcare providers about drinking water safety.

System Improvements

Throughout 2017, construction projects were central to our operations. Many improvements were driven by Division of Water (DOW) Stage 2 Disinfection By-products (DBPs) compliance requirements. We replaced aging downtown water lines to enhance water quality and improve flow to customers.

TSI Construction installed a new 24-inch diameter backwash pipe from our 1-million gallon Clearwell to Filters #3 and #4, allowing for better filter cleaning and reduced DBP formation. We also installed a chlorine disinfection line in the filter units to optimize treatment.

Our granular activated carbon (GAC) filter trials showed promising water quality improvements. Though construction activities sometimes interrupted the GAC filter operation, the Division of Water granted us additional study time. We're pleased to report that we met all regulatory requirements in 2017, including those for DBPs.

After careful analysis, we determined that converting to chloramine treatment would be the most cost-effective way to sustain water quality improvements, especially for customers in outlying service areas and neighboring communities we supply.

Chloramine Conversion

To ensure the highest quality water delivery, we're transitioning to monochloramine as our final disinfection step in late 2018. This change will help us exceed EPA standards and may improve taste and odor. Monochloramine has been safely used by water utilities for over 90 years, including nearby systems in Louisville, Elizabethtown, Radcliff, and Versailles.

While chlorine is highly effective for initial disinfection, its residual diminishes as water travels through the distribution system. Adding ammonia creates monochloramine, which provides more stable and consistent water quality throughout our service area.

Special Considerations

Monochloramine requires special handling in two specific situations:

• Kidney Dialysis: Monochloramine must be removed from water used in kidney dialysis. If you're a dialysis patient, please consult your physician or dialysis center.
• Aquatic Pets: Monochloramine can harm fish, amphibians, and other aquatic life. Use appropriate water treatment products to remove monochloramine when keeping fish, turtles, frogs, and other aquatic pets.

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