Georgetown Municipal Water Service

Georgetown's primary water source is the Royal Spring, classified as Groundwater Under the Immediate Influence of Surface Water. Daily customer demand is supplemented with treated surface water purchased from Frankfort Plant Board and as-needed supply from Kentucky-American Water Company.

GMWSS has completed a source water assessment plan viewable at their Administration building during regular hours. The Royal Spring has been determined to have moderate susceptibility to potential contamination due to urban runoff. Frankfort's Kentucky River intake (Pool #4) generally has average contamination susceptibility, while Kentucky-American's Jacobson Park intake is vulnerable to agricultural and urban stormwater runoff.

All drinking water, including bottled varieties, may contain small amounts of contaminants. Their presence doesn't necessarily indicate a health risk. Water sources (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 can 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 runoff, wastewater, or agriculture
• Pesticides and herbicides from stormwater runoff and agriculture
• Organic chemical contaminants from industrial processes, petroleum production, gas stations, or septic systems
• Radioactive contaminants from natural sources or mining activities

EPA regulations limit contaminant levels in public water systems to ensure safety, while FDA sets similar limits for bottled water. Some individuals may be more vulnerable to contaminants than the general population, including those undergoing chemotherapy, organ transplant recipients, HIV/AIDS patients, elderly individuals, and infants. These groups should seek advice from healthcare providers regarding water consumption.

If present, elevated lead levels can cause serious health problems, especially for pregnant women and young children. Lead typically comes from service lines and home plumbing materials. Georgetown Municipal Water Service provides quality water but cannot control plumbing component materials. 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.

The water system recently violated a monitoring standard. During May 2017, not all required monitoring for Chlorine was completed, so water quality during that period cannot be fully verified. One chlorine reading was accidentally omitted from the Monthly Operation Report. A corrected report has been submitted. No immediate action is required by customers, as the water remains safe to drink.

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