Garrard County Water Assoc Inc

This report aims to educate the public about the quality of municipal water services provided daily. Our dedication is to deliver safe, clean, and dependable water flow. We're committed to monitoring, enhancing, and protecting our water system while providing high-quality service.

Garrard County Water Association supplies purchased water from several providers who treat surface water. These suppliers and their sources include:

• Berea Municipal Utilities: draws from Upper Silver Creek, Lower Silver Creek, Cowbell and Owsley Fork Lakes
• Lancaster Water System: utilizes Lancaster's Eastern Reservoir, which receives water from the Kentucky River
• Danville Water Program: sources from River Herrington

Each provider has conducted contamination susceptibility analyses with overall moderate ratings. Areas of heightened concern include transportation corridors, underground storage tanks, agricultural land use, and waste generation sites. Source Water Assessment Plans are available for review at each water producer's facility. For provider contact information, call our office at 859-792-4501.

For specific service area inquiries, please contact Garrard County Water Association. General service areas include:

• Berea: serves south of Highway 52 and east/south of Highway 954 starting at Narrow Gap Road
• Danville: serves Bryants Camp area, Fork Cathedral Road, Fisher Ford Road region, and portions of Highway 34
• Lancaster and Danville (combined water): serves customers north of US 27 and Highway 34 intersection
• Lancaster: serves remaining customers not mentioned above

All municipal water, including bottled varieties, may reasonably contain small amounts of contaminants. Their presence doesn't necessarily indicate health risks. For more information about contaminants and potential health effects, call 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 natural minerals and sometimes radioactive material, and may collect substances from animal or human activities. Potential contaminants include:

• Microbial contaminants like viruses and bacteria from sewage plants, septic systems, livestock, or wildlife
• Inorganic contaminants such as salts and metals (naturally occurring or from runoff, wastewater discharges, oil/gas production, mining, or farming)
• Pesticides and herbicides from stormwater runoff or agricultural/residential uses
• Organic chemical contaminants including synthetic and volatile compounds from industrial processes, petroleum production, gas stations, runoff, or waste systems
• Radioactive contaminants that occur naturally or result from energy production or mining

The EPA establishes regulations limiting specific contaminants in public water systems to ensure safety. FDA regulations set similar limits for bottled water. Some individuals may be more vulnerable to water contaminants than others, including immunocompromised persons (cancer patients undergoing chemotherapy, organ transplant recipients, HIV/AIDS patients, the elderly, and infants). These individuals should consult their physicians about drinking water safety.

Regarding lead: Elevated lead levels can cause serious health problems, particularly for pregnant women and young children. Lead in tap water primarily comes from service line materials and home plumbing components. While we provide high-quality water, we cannot control plumbing component materials. When water sits unused for hours, you can minimize lead exposure by flushing your tap for 30 seconds to 2 minutes before using water for drinking or cooking. If concerned, consider having your water tested. Information about lead in water, testing methods, and exposure reduction is available from the Safe Drinking Water Hotline or at http://www.epa.gov/safewater/lead.

Why is my water discolored?

Naturally occurring minerals (typically iron and manganese) circulating with the water are usually the cause of discoloration. These minerals, heavier than water, can accumulate over time and settle in our water mains during periods of low usage—especially in winter months. When water flow increases (due to spring/summer demands, hydrant use, or main breaks), these settled minerals can be stirred up and enter your household plumbing.

What should I do if my water is discolored?

Contact our Customer Service Center at (800) 732-9678 to report the issue. This allows our team to evaluate the situation and track incidents to prevent future occurrences. Once notified, we'll investigate the cause and initiate corrective actions, including dispatching a service technician if necessary.

The following information will help us determine the cause:

1. When did you first notice discolored water?
2. How long has it been discolored?
3. Did you notice any work crews or hydrant usage in your area?
4. Are both hot and cold water discolored? If you haven't checked your hot water, please avoid turning it on to prevent drawing discolored water into your hot water tank.
5. Is there a predominant color to the discoloration (red, orange, brown, black, yellow, white)?
6. Have you observed any sediment or residue after use?

Will you test my water?

Yes, upon request, we'll sample water from your property and test it for key quality parameters: color, iron, manganese, chlorine residual, and pH.

What happens after I report discolored water?

If the discoloration results from a water main break, once repaired, we'll flush the system by opening fire hydrants or "blow offs" to clear discolored water from mains. After the flushed water runs clear, you should run your cold water taps to clear any discolored water from your service line and internal plumbing.

If the discoloration isn't from a main break, we'll check if other customers in your area have reported similar issues. If not, we may visit your home to diagnose the problem by running water from a cold tap. If it doesn't clear quickly, indicating discolored water in our mains, we'll dispatch a technician to flush the system in your area. After system flushing, you'll need to run your cold water taps to clear any remaining discolored water from your household plumbing.

Can I use my water while it's discolored?

We recommend avoiding use of discolored water for drinking, cooking, or laundry to prevent possible staining or health concerns.