Kentucky Water Utilities Advisory Committee
The Drinking Water Advisory Council is an informal panel comprised of representatives of public and rural utilities that provide drinking water to Kentucky’s citizens. It formed several years ago to address issues that may affect consumers and the regulated community. The Wastewater Advisory Council is a collaborative stakeholder group comprised of representatives of public utilities that provide wastewater treatment services to Kentucky’s citizens. The Wastewater Advisory Council was formed in 2014 to address issues that may affect consumers and the regulated community. In 2024, the name of the group was changed to Kentucky Water Utilities Advisory Committee.
Lead in Drinking Water Workgroup
Issues regarding lead in drinking water prompted the Division of Water (DOW) to form the Lead in Drinking Water Workgroup in 2016; it is a subgroup of the Drinking Water Advisory Council. DOW wanted a proactive, coordinated effort by a diverse panel to examine where the Commonwealth currently stands, where future action might need to be taken, and eventually develop recommendations if appropriate. Members of the group include representatives from the Department of Health, Department of Education, Kentucky Rural Water Association, Rural Community Assistance Partnership, the Universities of Louisville and Kentucky, Louisville Water Company, and other utilities across the state. Recognizing the complexity of water chemistry and the variety of topics involved with lead in drinking water, the group began examining the health effects of lead, corrosion control, infrastructure, regulations, the role of non-water utility operators, and financing. The Work Group is expected to continue examining these topics with the advent of the 2021 Biden-Harris Lead Pipe and Paint Action Plan and associated initiatives, and make recommendations regarding management practices in response to lead in drinking water.