East Casey County Water District

Our municipal water is sourced from five different suppliers that manage surface water resources. The town of Liberty serves most of the county, while Jamestown serves the southern region (Liberty Lake). Somerset via Eubank provides water to the Grove Ridge area (Lake Cumberland), Campbellsville serves the northwest section, and Columbia/Adair Resources supplies customers in the Clementsville and Pellyton areas (Green River Lake).

Water Source Assessments have been completed for each supplier, and vulnerability to contamination is generally rated as low. The primary concerns include transportation corridors, agricultural activities, residential developments, business operations, and waste disposal facilities. Complete Resource Water Assessment Programs detailing specific contamination sources can be reviewed at the respective water supplier offices or at the Lake Cumberland Area Development office in Russell Springs.

All water, including bottled varieties, naturally contains some level of contaminants. Their presence doesn't necessarily indicate health risks. For more information about contaminants and potential health effects, contact the EPA's Safe Drinking Water Hotline (800-426-4791).

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

Potential contaminants include:

• Microbial contaminants (viruses, bacteria) from sewage plants, septic systems, livestock, or wildlife
• Inorganic contaminants (salts, metals) from natural sources, stormwater, sewage, oil/gas production, mining, or farming
• Pesticides and herbicides from stormwater runoff, agriculture, or residential use
• Organic chemical contaminants from industrial processes, petroleum production, gas stations, runoff, or waste systems
• Radioactive contaminants from natural sources or resource extraction activities

The EPA establishes regulations limiting contaminant levels in public water systems, while FDA regulations set similar standards for bottled water to ensure public safety. Certain populations may be more vulnerable to water contaminants, including immunocompromised individuals, cancer patients undergoing chemotherapy, organ transplant recipients, people with HIV/AIDS, some elderly individuals, and infants. These individuals should consult their healthcare providers about drinking water safety.

Information About Lead: Elevated lead levels can cause serious health problems, especially for pregnant women and young children. Lead in drinking water primarily comes from materials in service lines and home plumbing. While your water utility provides quality water, they cannot control the components used in residential plumbing. To minimize lead exposure, flush your tap for 30 seconds to 2 minutes before using water for drinking or cooking if it has been sitting for several hours. If concerned about lead, consider having your water tested. More information is available from the Safe Drinking Water Hotline or at http://www.epa.gov/safewater/lead.

Liberty has provided notice that during the 7/2/2016 - 9/26/2016 compliance period, they failed to properly report their LT2 Sample Plan on time, resulting in a violation as KDOW could not verify adequate water quality testing plans. The LT2 Sample Plan has since been submitted and approved, confirming plans to monitor Cryptosporidium over the next two years meet federal requirements. No action is required from consumers, as there are no adverse health effects associated with this reporting violation.

The CDC provides essential information about waterborne illnesses, prevention strategies, and safety guidelines for municipal water consumers. Their resources explain how proper water treatment protects public health and what steps residents can take if they suspect contamination issues in their local supply.