Water Quality
As a leader within the Commonwealth in environmental stewardship, the University of Kentucky strives to maintain compliance with all local, state, and federal regulations in order to prevent the discharge of pollutants to the environment and to create a clean and healthy campus where faculty, staff, students, and visitors can thrive. This includes maintaining compliance with the University’s Municipal Separate Storm Sewer System (MS4) permit, ensuring access to safe drinking water in all campus buildings, protecting local groundwater sources from campus impact, and abiding by the conditions of our industrial user permit to ensure a wastewater discharge free of harmful chemicals. See below to learn more about our individual water program areas.
Stormwater is generated when rain can no longer be absorbed into the ground and flows over surfaces picking up pollutants along the way. As a MS4 permittee, the University is required to ensure that runoff from campus does not adversely impact area streams. Find out more about the MS4 permit, what UK is doing to improve the quantity and quality of campus stormwater, and how you can help.
Kentucky American Water supplies the University with all drinking water on campus. Learn more about the source of this water, how it is treated, common issues, and what to do if you have concerns about the quality of drinking water here on campus.
Groundwater can be negatively impacted by activities on the surface. This has the potential to harm valuable drinking water sources. Find out more about what groundwater is, why it is important, and learn more about what UK does to protect it.
LFUCG authorizes the University to discharge wastewater to their Town Branch Wastewater Treatment Plant via an Industrial User Permit. Learn more about the permit requirements, what can and can’t go down the drain (drain disposal), and how to properly dispose of chemicals.