Lexington-Fayette
Lexington-Fayette, KY water profile — supply sources, drought status, wastewater reuse, and the key water issues facing the city.
Lexington-Fayette is a large city and the largest in Kentucky, home to roughly 314,488 residents. Lexington-Fayette's drinking water comes largely from the same regional sources that serve Kentucky: Ohio River, Kentucky River, and reservoirs.
As elsewhere in Kentucky, the central challenge is aging infrastructure. Plentiful surface water; the main issue is aging distribution systems and rural access.
Kentucky reuses an estimated 3% of its treated wastewater and maintains minimal reuse programs; Lexington-Fayette tracks moderate to severe drought conditions on the U.S. Drought Monitor scale.
Explore the Kentucky profile for statewide context, or dig into the water issues shaping Lexington-Fayette below.
At a glance
- Population ~314,488 (largest in Kentucky)
- Primary sources: Ohio River, Kentucky River, and reservoirs
- Drought: moderate to severe conditions
- State reuse rate: ~3% of wastewater
Statewide drought history
% of Kentucky in severe+ drought (Severe (D2) now).
Source: U.S. Drought Monitor
Common questions
Is tap water safe in Lexington-Fayette?
Lexington-Fayette is served by community water systems regulated under the Safe Drinking Water Act. Statewide, 47.7% of Kentucky's systems have a recent health-based violation. Check your provider's annual Consumer Confidence Report for local results.
Where does Lexington-Fayette get its water?
Lexington-Fayette draws from the same regional sources that serve Kentucky: Ohio River, Kentucky River, reservoirs.