Bullock Pen Water District

This report aims to educate residents about the quality of water and services provided daily. Our primary commitment is delivering safe, clean, and reliable water to our customers. We continuously monitor, improve, and protect our water system to maintain high-quality standards.

Water is essential in every household, and we encourage everyone to conserve and help safeguard our water sources and infrastructure. Our water comes primarily from surface water sources including Ohio Water, Licking River, Bullock Pen Lake, and Williamstown Lake. We process water from Bullock Pen Lake at our treatment facility and purchase additional water from several regional suppliers.

A vulnerability assessment has been completed for each source. The Ohio and Licking Rivers show high susceptibility to contamination, while Bullock Pen and Williamstown Lakes demonstrate moderate risk. Areas of concern include transportation infrastructure development, potential spills, impervious surface coverage, and contaminated runoff.

Agricultural areas with row crops and urban/recreational grasses present risks from herbicides, pesticides, and fertilizers. Infrastructure like bridges, railroads, ports, and industrial facilities introduce potential hazards from chemical leaks or spills. The complete assessment report is available for review at the Northern Kentucky Region Development District.

All water, including bottled varieties, may contain small amounts of contaminants. This doesn't necessarily indicate a health risk. More information about contaminants and potential health effects is available through the EPA's Safe Drinking Water Hotline (800-426-4791).

Water sources (tap and bottled) include rivers, lakes, streams, ponds, reservoirs, springs, and wells. As water travels across land or underground, it dissolves natural minerals and, sometimes, radioactive materials, and may pick up substances from animal or human activity.

Potential contaminants include microbial pollutants from sewage facilities, septic systems, or wildlife; inorganic contaminants like salts and metals; pesticides and herbicides from agriculture; organic chemicals from industrial processes or petroleum production; and naturally occurring radioactive elements.

The EPA establishes regulations limiting contaminant levels in public water systems, while FDA regulations set similar standards for bottled water. Immunocompromised individuals, including cancer patients, organ transplant recipients, those with HIV/AIDS, elderly people, and infants may be particularly vulnerable to certain contaminants and should seek advice from healthcare providers.

Regarding lead: elevated levels can cause serious health problems, especially for pregnant women and young children. Lead primarily enters water through service line materials and household plumbing. When water sits unused for several hours, flushing the tap for 30 seconds to 2 minutes before use can reduce exposure risk. For concerns about lead, consider water testing. More information is available from the Safe Drinking Water Hotline or at http://www.epa.gov/safewater/lead.

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