KYEEC

News release

The Kentucky Energy and Environment (EEC) Cabinet has recognized drinking water treatment facilities across the Commonwealth, including Danville Water Works, that have achieved performance standards while participating in the Area-Wide Optimization Program (AWOP). This is a multi-state initiative administered through the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency to facilitate drinking water systems in their voluntary efforts to achieve optimization goals that are more stringent than current regulations.

Danville City Water Works was among 33 drinking water facilities that received a certificate for meeting the AWOP turbidity goals and criteria in 2019. It was also one of three drinking water systems that received a certificate for meeting the AWOP DBP goals and criteria in 2019.

“Clean drinking water is a service we all take for granted until there is a problem,” said Alicia Jacobs, the Division of Water’s drinking water branch manager.  “Kentucky’s AWOP participants are committed to optimizing the treatment process in order to provide the highest quality drinking water to Kentuckians.”

Drinking water systems utilize AWOP tools and methods to increase the level of protection to consumers. In particular, AWOP emphasizes the reduction of turbidity and disinfection byproducts (DBPs). Turbidity, or cloudiness, is a measurement of particles in water including soil, algae, bacteria, viruses and other substances. DBPs are formed when chlorine, which is used for disinfection, reacts with organic material found in the source water.

“The Division recognizes and is grateful for the commitment these water facilities have to protecting the health of the public by working to exceed Safe Drinking Water Act requirements,” Jacobs said.