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Worked at Louisville Water since 2007
Every day, nearly a million people turn on their taps and trust Louisville Water to deliver safe, high-quality drinking water. That reliability does not happen by accident—it’s powered by dedicated employees working behind the scenes, like Plant Maintenance Mechanic John Booher.
For almost two decades, Booher has helped keep Louisville Pure Tap® flowing by maintaining vital systems, fixing what breaks, and stepping up when the community needs it most.
“We make sure the pumps work, make sure the communications work, and that everything there is functional,” Booher explained.
It’s a job Booher has invested in personally and professionally. Throughout his career, he has earned several certifications, including a Kentucky Class IV and an Indiana WT3 – both water treatment licenses.
When asked what has kept him at Louisville Water for 19 years, Booher pointed to both stability and purpose.
“I like working for a stable company and that this job directly contributes to providing our community with a quality product,” he said.
That commitment has included responding to several major flooding events—moments when Booher’s work becomes even more critical.
“Flood events do stand out. You know, it’s something unique, and it’s something kind of cool, and you’re helping the community,” Booher said.
Booher and other crews used a boat to get to the Louisville Water Tower and pumping stations during the historic flooding along River Road in 2025. He pulled 24-hour shifts to keep an eye on the pumps and make sure drinking water still flowed during one of the top 10 floods in our city’s history.
Booher is normally based at the Crescent Hill Filtration Plant, but he embraces the unpredictable nature of his role.
“That’s one of the fun things about maintenance—you don’t really know. You have to be able to change directions pretty quickly,” he said.
Booher’s career path led him down another path personally. Louisville Water is where he met his wife, Pam.
“We worked 12-hour shifts together. Then we went home and spent the other 12 hours together,” Booher said with a smile. “They said, you know, that I was crazy. I told them, ‘Go marry somebody you like’.”
Booher and Pam, who is now retired, have been married 16 years and have four kids and 13 grandchildren. When looking at the big picture, it’s the people and meaningful connections he’s made along the way at Louisville Water that he treasures most.
“Met some great people, still stay in touch with most of them (Louisville Water retirees). You know, we just banter back and forth. It’s a lot of fun,” Booher joked.
Outside of work, Booher enjoys spending time with his family and being outdoors—hunting, fishing, and tending to his garden. Looking ahead, he plans to retire in 2029 with dreams of moving to the country.
When the time for retirement comes, Booher will leave more than just a well-maintained system behind. He leaves a legacy of reliability, resilience, and heart.
Because at Louisville Water, it’s not just about the flow of the water—it’s about the people who keep it moving.
