WOLFE COUNTY, Ky. — For weeks, Wolfe County residents have complained about discolored water. It has been nearly a month since leaders of the small city of Campton began trying to fix its water systems.
What You Need To Know
- The city of Campton, located in Wolfe County, has spent weeks dealing with water discoloration
- One resident shared they were worried about doing essential activities such as drinking, cooking and bathing
- However, Mayor Kathi May said through with constant tests and checks, they’re getting back on track
- May said the issue stems from elements that were added to a well the city is using
One resident shared they were worried about drinking, cooking and bathing with water they said left behind residue inside their tubs and washing machines and even damaged clothing. However, Campton Mayor Kathi May said through with constant tests and checks, they’re getting back on track.
Wolfe County native Hope Thomas returned to Campton almost two years ago to co-own and operate the 145 Roadhouse restaurant. The restaurant is located in the heart of the city, which has about 300 people, and it relies on natural resources.
“I know that it has been a topic, at least, since I've been back for about a year and a half, almost two years,” Thomas said.
May pointed to scarce rainfall leading to low water levels at Wolfe Lake, which, in turn, led to mandatory water conservation and for an old well to be put back online to help supply water to the community.
“Going into this, we were going to encounter high levels of iron and manganese that was going to be pulled from the well because we had used the well many years ago and had taken it offline,” May said.
The problem is, too much at once gives the water a pink or dark hue. Working with plant staff and state inspectors, they've gradually withdrawn and treated the water from the well that has to enter the lake with sodium permanganate.
May say they believe turnover from severe weather in September caused a shift.
“I think that when that happened, we started getting ... more increased levels of the manganese,” May said. “Some of that was coming through the plant out into my water lines. When the chlorine in the lines mixes with the manganese, it causes the discoloration that we were seeing with the water.”
Dozens of residents have spoken out, but Thomas said the issue hasn't affected the restaurant's workflow.
“Haven't been affected as much by that," Thomas said. "Our business, being a restaurant, we've had plenty of filters and things on there."
May said while it’s been a series of trial and error, they want to preserve the environmental resource that fuels most of their community.
“We do have funding to replace a large section of our water lines, and we have a project profile to replace all of the oldest, the most aging, lines in the city of Campton,” May said.
May added every Tuesday morning, city and state inspectors sample water in different areas around the county to send out to mineral labs for testing.