Paris Water Department wants community’s help for water testing

PARIS, Ky. (WTVQ/Press Release) – The City of Paris Water Department wants the public’s help in gathering water samples for a lead and copper testing program.

The sample collection is required by the Kentucky Division of Water and the Federal EPA. The water department said there is a complex process to collecting the samples, which is where the public’s help is appreciated.

The pipes supplying water samples must be copper. The following is the instructions for collecting the samples:

1. Water must come from the cold-water faucet from either the kitchen or bathroom sink.
2. The water must be in the pipes no less than six hours. The best way to ensure this is to collect the sample when you first get up in the morning or first thing when you get home from work. If the waiting period is longer than six hours, it will not affect the sample.
3. When collecting the sample, after the six hour time period is over, the water collected must be the very first draw. Do not let the water run before collecting the sample. A one liter sample container is provided. Please fill it to the top, then write the date and time the sample is collected on the label on the container.
4. Please leave the sample bottle on your front doorstep on the morning of Aug. 5 and samples will be picked up by water plant personnel around 10 a.m.

Results of the water testing will be mailed to participants once they are received from the water department’s laboratory.

For any questions, call Chad Smart, Water Treatment Plant Superintendent, at 859-987-2118.