Location: cityofbardstown.org > Water Plant

Water Plant

2535 Boston Rd
Bardstown, KY
(502)348-3064

The City of Bardstown got into the water treatment business in 1903 when it created a dam across Barber's Hollow, which is now the Community Park (minus the dam and lake). The lake had a capacity of 29,000,000 gallons of water. The City started pumping water from its new plant in 1904, which was located on E. Broadway, now the Civil War Museum. During months of drought, water was hauled by truck to the treatment plant. In 1944 a permanent line to the Beech Fork River was installed to supplement the lake.

In 1963, Sympson lake construction was completed with a capacity of 1.2 billion gallons covering more than 135 surface acres. In 1965 the current water treatment plant was completed with a pumping capacity of 2 million gallons per day. Many upgrades have been completed since then. Bardstown water treatment plant now has a capacity to pump 8 million gallons per day. During months with little rainfall, water can be pumped from the Beech Fork River to holding lagoons at the rate of 6 million gallons per day to supplement the lake. This should be adequate for many years to come.