Lexington has no large-scale municipal reclaimed water distribution system. LFUCG Water Quality treats sewage at Town Branch and West Hickman plants and discharges to streams, rather than supplying purple-pipe irrigation.
Unlike arid-region cities, Lexington has not built a purple-pipe reclaimed water network for irrigation, since the Bluegrass Region typically receives ample rainfall and the karst hydrology complicates large reuse projects. LFUCG Water Quality operates Town Branch and West Hickman wastewater plants, which discharge treated effluent under Kentucky Division of Water (KDOW) NPDES permits. Limited graywater reuse on private property is allowed under Kentucky plumbing rules with proper permits, but is rare. Some commercial cooling and irrigation systems use harvested rainwater. Empower Lexington encourages water reuse pilots, but no citywide reclaimed water mandate or distribution exists.
Unpermitted graywater systems can be cited under Kentucky plumbing code by LFUCG Building Inspection. Discharge violations from private systems are subject to KDOW enforcement.
Lexington, KY
Customers report drinking water leaks to Kentucky-American Water. Sewer leaks, manhole overflows, and stormwater issues are reported to LFUCG Water Quality t...
Lexington, KY
Lexington-Fayette Urban County Government regulates stormwater through its Division of Water Quality under LFUCG Code of Ordinances. The city holds an MS4 pe...
See how Lexington's recycled water rules rules stack up against other locations.
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