Hardin County Water District #1

We're proud to present our annual water quality report once again. As in previous years, we remain committed to delivering the highest quality water possible to our community. We continuously work to meet new regulatory requirements, protect our water sources, promote conservation, and engage with community education initiatives while meeting the needs of all our customers.

We encourage you to share your thoughts on the information presented in this report. Well-informed customers are our greatest allies in maintaining water quality. For questions about this report or your water service, please contact Mr. Chris Gohman, Water Treatment Plant Manager, at (270) 862-4340 or by fax at (270) 862-5740. You can also reach him via email at cgohman@hcwd.com.

Water Treatment Process

All our Water Treatment Plants utilize a three-step process including clarification to remove larger particles, followed by filtration through multiple layers of sand, gravel, and anthracite coal to remove smaller particles and contaminants. Finally, the treated water is disinfected in holding tanks before being distributed through our 400+ miles of water mains to 13 storage tanks with a combined capacity of 7 million gallons.

Our Pirtle Water Treatment Plant, completely rebuilt in 2009, has received five industry awards since its renovation. Tours of our facilities can be arranged for school and civic groups by contacting Mr. Gohman.

Lead in Home Plumbing

Elevated lead levels can cause serious health issues, particularly for pregnant women and young children. Lead in tap water primarily comes from materials in service lines and home plumbing. While we provide quality water, we cannot control materials used in plumbing components. If your water has been sitting for several hours, you can minimize lead exposure by flushing your tap for 30 seconds to 2 minutes before using water for drinking or cooking. For concerns about lead in your water, consider having it tested. Information about lead in water is available from the Safe Drinking Water Hotline or at www.epa.gov/lead.

Wellhead Protection

Hardin County Water District #1 and Fort Knox Water updated their Wellhead Protection Plans in 2016, collaborating with representatives from county utilities, KY Rural Water Association, KY Geological Survey, and Hardin County Planning and Zoning. This collaborative approach strengthens our source water protection efforts.

Our water sources include the Pirtle Spring (collecting from a 27-square-mile area) and the Head of Rough Spring (from a 17-square-mile area). Both watersheds are in primarily agricultural areas, exposing our treatment process to agricultural runoff contaminants.

Water Hardness

Due to the karst aquifers through which our source waters flow, our water contains approximately 80 parts per million calcium and 200 ppm calcium hardness. While this calcium benefits our customers' health (supporting blood clotting, muscle contraction, and bone/tooth formation), the hardness can affect appliances. Water heaters, dishwashers, and humidifiers are particularly susceptible to calcium buildup at higher temperatures. We recommend a preventative maintenance program every 3-6 months for these appliances.

Frequently Asked Questions

Animal Control

1. I must provide proof that my dog's rabies vaccination is valid through the following November 1 after I'm licensing my dog on January 1?
2. My pet's rabies vaccination doesn't expire until later this year. Is it okay for me to have my dog vaccinated several months early?
3. Who should I contact if I notice an injured domestic or wild animal?
4. We just added a puppy/kitten to the family. When should we have our new pet certified?
5. Who should I contact if I discover a bat or other wild animal in my living quarters?

Clean Communities

1. What is Rockaway Township Clean Communities?

Public Works & Utilities

1. Where can I find the recycling and bulk schedule?
2. How do I dispose of electronic devices?
3. With the new single stream recycling program, can I simply deposit cans, bottles, newspapers, and cardboard all together in one container for curbside pickup?
4. How should I dispose of newspapers for curbside collection?
5. Are the Recycling Centers single stream like curbside pick-up?
6. How do I properly dispose of batteries?
7. Who is responsible for maintaining the sidewalk in front of my home?
8. Where does my responsibility for water service to my house end?
9. During a snowstorm, the snowplow damaged my mailbox. Will the Township repair it?
10. How can I get a copy of the water quality report for the Rockaway Water System?
11. When do I need to request an Underground mark-out to locate utilities (water, sewer, electric, gas, phone, cable)?