Paducah Water is working every day to promote the health of each of its customers and minimize exposure to lead in drinking water. Our employees monitor and analyze water quality daily at the treatment plant as well as throughout the distribution system.
PW proactively implements a number of strategies to address the potential for lead exposure with an overall focus on maintaining excellent water quality.
Paducah Water closely monitors water quality parameters (such as pH, alkalinity, temperature, etc.) and performs hundreds of tests to ensure that the drinking water that leaves the treatment facility is stable and not corrosive. In addition, PW adds a blended phosphate that mitigates the chemical reaction that can result in lead leaching into drinking water from service lines and household plumbing. In 2021 and 2024, PW performed system-wide sampling and testing and confirmed that the corrosion control measures are effective. That means PW is feeding the proper phosphate blend, phosphate concentrations within the distribution system are appropriate and PW is minimizing lead exposure for the benefit of all customers.PW has an excellent history of system-wide compliance testing for lead, with results that are far below EPA’s regulatory threshold. This is a clear indication that our proactive corrosion control program is effective.
Flushing is an integral part of PW’s commitment to water quality. PW has two full-time employees that are dedicated to flushing throughout the entire distribution system. System-wide flushing consists of opening hydrants at specific locations and running water through our water mains. Flushing is a vital part of maintaining water quality once the water leaves the treatment plant by:
With respect to lead, it is the distribution of phosphates and minimizing water age that are key benefits. Flushing is most critical in areas of low use and dead end water mains.
Lead service lines may have been used within the PW distribution system until approximately 1930. The challenge is, we do not know precisely where these lead service lines are located. For many decades, lead service lines have been removed when discovered by PW crews as part of routine operations. However, in 2019, PW established a goal to locate and remove all lead service lines remaining within the PW distribution system. Since then, PW staff have been performing service record reviews, integrating operations software, purchasing equipment and allocating staff with the specific purpose of finding and replacing 100% of lead service lines.
A service line inventory is currently ongoing, in which vacuum excavation is utilized to visually inspect service lines to determine the materials of construction. Efforts are being focused on the area of the PW system that was constructed prior to 1930.
As this inventory work provides valuable information, PW will begin formulating a cost-effective plan for replacement of lead service lines and will work with each affected customer on an individual basis to ensure safeguards are in place to protect their health.
With respect to lead, it is the distribution of phosphates and minimizing water age that are key benefits. Flushing is most critical in areas of low use and dead end water mains.