Water availability and vulnerability of ground water to contamination in northwestern Hardin County, Kentucky

Abstract

Ground water is the source of water for about 27,000 people served by the Hardin County Water District Number 1 in northwestern Hardin County in northcentral Kentucky. Water is obtained from four wells in the alluvial aquifer bordering the Ohio River near West Point, Kentucky, and from Pirtle Spring, a large karst spring near Howe Valley. Some wells in the alluvium are producing water that contains elevated levels of chloride, and Pirtle Spring cannot satisfy current water demand during prolonged dry periods. Supplemental sources of high-yield, good quality water are needed.