Lexington-Fayette Water Hardness & Quality Report (2026)

Kentucky American Water – Central Division (PWSID: KY0340250) serves customers in Fayette, Clark, Scott, Jessamine, Harrison, Bourbon, and Woodford counties, with Lexington-Fayette as the primary urban area. Water is sourced through three treatment plants — Kentucky River Station, Richmond Road Station, and Kentucky River Station II — which treat approximately 42 million gallons per day from pool 9 of the Kentucky River south of Lexington, Jacobson Reservoir in Fayette County, and pool 3 of the Kentucky River in Owen County.

The Kentucky River watershed, part of the larger Ohio River basin, drains a karst landscape in the Inner Bluegrass Region. Underlying Ordovician limestone formations — including the Lexington Limestone and Tates Creek Member — contribute dissolved minerals to the surface waters. This geology imparts a hard character to the supply, with natural buffering from alkalinity and elevated calcium (39 mg/L) and magnesium levels shaped by rock-water interactions and seasonal precipitation across the carbonate terrain. Treatment plant alkalinity measures approximately 79 mg/L.

Hard water causes scale buildup in water heaters, dishwashers, coffee makers, and laundry equipment, reducing efficiency and lifespan. Soap scum and reduced lathering are common in bathrooms and kitchens. Regular descaling with vinegar, installing drain screens, and flushing hot water heaters annually are recommended. A water softener helps households mitigate these effects and extend appliance life. The utility complies with lead and copper action levels (90th percentile undetected; action level 15 µg/L). Treatment involves coagulation, sedimentation, filtration, and disinfection per conventional surface water processes; no specific PFAS data is noted in available reports.