WATER TREATMENT PLANT
Water Treatment
To support the needs of our growing community, Morehead Utility Plant Board opened a new twelve million gallon per day Regional Water Treatment Plant in March, 2025. Along with the new treatment facility, a new raw water intake was constructed on Cave Run Lake to improve water quality and increase source water capacity.
The Regional Water Treatment Plant utilizes best available treatment technologies, including ultrafiltration membrane filters, granular activated carbon contactors, and on-site sodium hypochlorite generation to deliver improved water quality while reducing the amount of treatment chemicals used. The facility was built with redundancies and backup power for reliability and resilience of service. This investment will ensure our customers receive high quality water for generations to come.
Lab Testing
There are two laboratories located inside the Water Treatment Plant and our operators conduct thousands of water quality tests each year.
Operators analyze water quality parameters such as turbidity, chlorine, pH, total hardness, alkalinity, total organic carbon, iron, manganese, and fluoride in the Process Laboratory. Results are reported for regulatory compliance and they also inform decision making in our treatment approach.
MUPB also operates a state certified Drinking Water Microbiology Laboratory, where our analysts test for total coliform bacteria and E. coli in water samples. All public water systems are required to have their water analyzed for the presence of these bacteria routinely and after making repairs in the distribution system. MUPB achieved Micro Lab certification to perform its own samples in April 2024 and later received approval to perform this analysis for other public water systems in January 2026.
SCADA System
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The water quality is closely monitored at our plant with a new SCADA system. With the SCADA system employees are able to monitor water tank levels, valve position and pump station controls.Our entire water plant and distribution system can be monitored and controlled from this computer work station. The computer is capable of notifying the operators of any alarms or variances which may occur at any time. As you can see, MUPB has moved water plant operation and distribution into the 21st century with its state of the art Water Plant and Control System.
We at the Morehead Water Plant work around the clock to provide top quality water to every tap. We ask that all our customers help us protect over water sources, which are the heart of our community, our way of life and our children’s future.
How to Read Your Residential Water Meter
To read the meter you record the numbers from the odometer type register. Since the odometer registers in hundreds of gallons you do not record the last two numbers. (The last number is a permanent number and the next dial registers tenths.) The remaining dials register the actual (in Hundreds) water used.
Subtract the previous reading from the new reading and you will know how many hundreds of gallons of water you have used.
Water Plant FAQs
Why does water need to be treated?
The short answer, is to keep you from getting sick. There are many chemical and microbial contaminants prevalent in surface waters and water treatment plants remove or reduce these in order to make your water safe to consume. All public water systems in Kentucky must meet or exceed both federal and state drinking water standards to ensure public safety. Kentucky drinking water regulations can be found in 401 KAR Chapter 8 while US EPA standards can be fount in 40 CFR Part 141 and 143
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What chemicals are used in MUPB’s treatment process?
MUPB uses aluminum chlorohydrate as a primary coagulant to cause tiny colloidal particles in the source water to bond together into larger particles called floc. These larger floc particles are easier to remove through filtration. MUPB also uses sodium permanganate as a pre-oxidant to oxidize iron and manganese, which can cause discoloration in water. Chlorine is used to disinfect your tap water and to prevent microbial growth in the distribution system and your household plumbing. Sodium hydroxide is used to increase the pH level to make the water less corrosive to household plumbing and fluoride is added to your water as required by 902 KAR Chapter 115 Regulation 10.
How can I learn more about my drinking water?
MUPB publishes and distributes its annual Consumer Confidence Report each spring. A link to the CCR can be found on MUPB’s website and printed copies are available in the MUPB office. Another helpful resource is Kentucky Drinking Water Watch, where compliance data for every water system in the state can be found. You may also contact MUPB at 606-784-5538 if you have questions about your water.
Additional Information
Hours of Operation
Phone/Fax
Fax: (606) 783-0142
Address
450 Filtration Plant Road
Morehead, KY 40351