FRANKFORT, Ky. (Aug. 15, 2022) – The Kentucky Agriculture Water Quality Authority will meet August 25 at 1 p.m. Eastern time in the Saddle and Sirloin Club, located on the upper level of South Wing C at the Kentucky Fair and Exposition Center.
AGENDA
Welcome
Roll call of authority members
Introduction of guests
Approval of minutes from May 5, 2022
Old business
New business
Subcommittee reports
Kasm
Farmstead
Pesticides, fertilizers and other agriculture chemicals
The Kentucky Energy and Environment Cabinet (EEC) recognized Kentucky drinking water treatment facilities that achieved optimization goals even more stringent than those required by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). By doing so, these facilities have voluntarily met the goals of the Area-Wide Optimization Program (AWOP) in 2021.
Drinking water systems utilize AWOP tools and methods to increase protection for consumers. In particular, AWOP emphasizes the reduction of turbidity and disinfection by-products (DBPs). Turbidity, or cloudiness, is a measurement of particles in water including soil, algae, bacteria, viruses, organic material, and other substances. DBPs are compounds that form when chlorine (used for disinfection) reacts with organic material in water.
“Forty-six systems who voluntarily participated in the AWOP exceeded their goals, producing water that goes above and beyond federal regulations for drinking water,” said Alicia Jacobs, the Division of Water Drinking Water branch manager. “As both a regulator and a citizen of the Commonwealth, I appreciate the commitment these water facilities have towards protecting the health of the public by working to exceed Safe Drinking Water Act requirements.”
Two drinking water treatment plants received the AWOP Champion Award, which recognizes water systems that achieved AWOP standards for three years in a row, taking into account the high level of turbidity optimization achieved.
Lawrenceburg Water and Sewer Department received the 2021 Champion Award for large systems (designed to treat 3 million or more gallons of water per day).
Monroe County Water District received the 2021 Champion Award for small systems (designed to treat less than 3 million gallons of water per day).
Sixteen AWOP drinking water plants earned special recognition for achieving AWOP turbidity goals 100 percent of the time in 2021:
Columbia / Adair County Water Commission
Hardin County Water District #2 Plant A
Hopkinsville Water Environment Authority
Jackson County Water Association
Jamestown Municipal Water Works
Kentucky American Water Plant C
Kentucky State Penitentiary
Laurel County Water District #2
Lawrenceburg Water And Sewer Department
Liberty Water Works
London Utility Commission
Louisa Water Department
Madisonville Light and Water
Monroe County Water District
Providence Water Works
Webster County Water District
Forty-four drinking water plants received a certificate for meeting AWOP turbidity goals and criteria in 2021:
Barbourville Water & Electric
Blue Grass Army Depot
Booneville Water
Bullock Pen Water District
Burkesville Water Works
Cave Run Regional Water Commission
Central City Water & Sewer
Columbia/Adair County Water Commission
Danville City Water Works
Falmouth Water Department
Franklin Water Works
Glasgow Water Company – Plants A & B
Hardin County Water District No. 2 – Plants A & B
Hartford Municipal Water Works
Hodgenville Water Works
Hopkinsville Water Environment Authority
Jackson County Water Association
Jackson Municipal Water Works
Jamestown Municipal Water Works
Jenkins Water System
Kentucky American – Plant C
Kentucky State Penitentiary
Knox County Utility Commission
Laurel County Water District No. 2
Lawrenceburg Water & Sewer Department
Lebanon Water Works Company Inc.
Liberty Water Works
Logan Todd Regional Water Commission
London Utility Commission
Louisa Water Department
Madisonville Light & Water
McCreary County Water District – Plants A & B
Monroe County Water District
Paducah Water Works
Princeton Water & Sewer Commission
Providence Water Works
Rattlesnake Ridge Water District
Water Services Corporation of KY, Middlesboro
Webster County Water District
Williamsburg Water Department
Wood Creek Water District
Bluegrass Army DepotRattlesnake Ridge
Ten drinking water systems received a certificate for meeting AWOP DBP goals and criteria in 2021:
Draft report addressing bacteria-impaired minor tributaries of the Ohio River
FRANKFORT, Ky. (June 22 2022) – The Kentucky Division of Water is seeking public comment through July 25, 2022 on a draft report that addresses bacteria-impaired streams in minor tributary watersheds of the Ohio River. This Total Maximum Daily Load (TMDL) report provides critical information needed to restore water quality in these waters.
“Total Maximum Daily Load” refers to the amount of a pollutant a water body can receive and still meet water quality standards. Standards for E. coli and fecal coliform bacteria are intended to protect the health of those using surface waters for swimming, wading, boating, and other recreation.
The Clean Water Act requires each state to periodically identify specific waters in which standards are not being met and then to develop a TMDL for the pollutants not meeting standards. TMDL reports are made available to the public for review and comment prior to submission to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency for approval.
The new report will complete TMDLs for 49 impaired stream segments in the following counties: Ballard, Boyd, Bracken, Breckinridge, Campbell, Crittenden, Daviess, Hancock, Henderson, Henry, Jefferson, Meade, Oldham, and Union.
The report is part of the Kentucky Statewide Bacteria TMDL, an ongoing effort which will complete TMDLs for more than 350 stream segments by the end of 2022.
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