Kenton Rotary Club Learns About City’s Water Supply

Nathan Frankel of the City of Kenton Water Department joined Rotarian Russ Blue and fellow members of the Kenton Rotary Club for an informative presentation on the city’s drinking water system.

Frankel explained that Kenton’s water is sourced from underground wells located in and around the city. Groundwater is naturally cleaner, requires less treatment for taste, and is less prone to issues like bacteria and algae. In Kenton, this groundwater passes through limestone, resulting in what is commonly referred to as “hard” water. To address this, the city treats the water with lime and soda ash to reduce hardness and improve quality.

The city’s water supply is subject to rigorous testing to ensure it meets all Ohio EPA and U.S. EPA regulations. Some testing is conducted on-site at the water treatment plant, which is staffed seven days a week with two shifts. Other samples are sent to laboratories for independent analysis.

He also shared a bit of history, noting that Kenton’s first well was drilled around 1882 to serve the needs of the growing village. Today, the city has a total of seven wells capable of supplying up to 3 million gallons of water per day if needed. On an average day, Kenton uses between 1 and 1.3 million gallons, all delivered to homes and businesses through a system pressurized at approximately 73 pounds of pressure from pumps and the water tower.