Adair County had an estimated population of 16,243 (6,752 households) in 1999; projected population in 2020 is 17,753 (7,827 households). Public water is provided to about 70 percent of the county's residents. In areas not served by public water, about 75 percent of the households use wells and 25 percent rely on other sources. Virtually 100 percent of the county will be provided public water service through new line extensions from 2000 to 2020.
The Water Resource Development Commission has prepared a report on water-supply infrastructure in the county.
It is estimated that there are over 200,000 water wells in Kentucky. The Kentucky Groundwater Data Repository, maintained by the Kentucky Geological Survey, has information on over 50,000 of these wells. The locations of wells and springs in the county for which data are available is shown on the map of wells and springs in the county. A map of certified well drillers in Kentucky has been prepared by the Kentucky Division of Water.