Betting on Louisville Pure Tap®

“We’re kind of in our busy season now,” said Christina Ferguson, a distribution water quality specialist for Louisville Water.

She’s not kidding. When you think of the Kentucky Derby, your first thought is likely Churchill Downs and horseracing. While Louisville shines on the world stage on the first Saturday in May, many other events in the weeks leading up to it help fuel the Derby spirit.

Louisville Water helped hydrate the spirit of thousands of runners and cyclists and fueled them to the finish line with Louisville Pure Tap®. The Triple Crown of Running, Tour De Lou, and the inaugural Kentucky Derby Festival 5K followed by the mini & MARATHON over the weekend kept Louisville Water crews busy.

Plumber Leader Chris Meeks runs the routes, checking all the water stop locations to test the water pressure and make sure the Pure Tap is flowing.

“We’ll basically a week or so before, prepare all that, so that it’s ready to hook up the day of (the race),” Meeks said.

A water quality specialist follows behind to ensure it’s high-quality Pure Tap.

“We test for turbidity, which is the amount of particles, be it air or sediment or anything like that that could be in the line,” Ferguson explained. “We’re testing the environment to make sure it’s not going to contaminate our good water.”

Aside from the obvious presence Louisville Water has in the races, crews are also focused on safety. Meeks and Plumber Leader’s Assistant Lance Raley were near the 5K starting line on Friday night when they received a report of a possible loose meter lid. The crew responded quickly before runners hit the pavement. And just a few hours later, they were back dark and early to prepare all 17 water stops for the mini & MARATHON.

“It’s for the fun of doing it. I like working with the guys. It’s always fun, we have a good time. Once you get going, it’s fine,” Plumber Leader Craig Wyatt said when asked why he volunteered for the 3 a.m. assignment.

Plumber Leader Mo Brown was also in good spirits, after taking a few years off from the marathon race day preps.

“I wasn’t going to the lake, so I said, you know what…,” he chuckled, but “This pace, I’m not used to it, way too quick.”

But they kept moving right along, checking off all the stops before runners ever arrived, eager to experience the rush of the race and crossing the finish line.

A few weeks ago, Emergency Turner Daniel Lyons worked his way through a checklist of his own to locate, inspect, and mark all the water valves in the area surrounding the track.

“First time I’ve done it for Churchill (Downs),” Lyons said.

“We’re checking the gates (valves). If they get buried and there’s a main break, possible flooding or something going on, we need to have access to them,” he explained.

Other crews ran through similar checklists in and around Churchill Downs; making sure all the meters worked properly, flushing fire hydrants, and confirming nothing blocked the pipes. Inside the track, cross-connection specialists inspected backflow devices and tested water samples.

The bottom line: Louisville Water covered all the bases to make sure the Pure Tap is flowing safely and is readily available for thousands of guests to Churchill and for those who call the neighborhood home.

As we head down the stretch to Kentucky Derby 151, Lyons said Louisville Water is a safe bet.

“I’m confident that Local 1683 and Louisville Water will be prepared for anything that happens during the Derby season.”