A Big Focus on Infrastructure

Board of Water Works Approves 2026 Budgets and Rates

Today the Board of Water Works, the governing body for Louisville Water, approved the 2026 operating and capital budgets that guide the company’s work and include water rates for all customer classes.

Family drinking Pure TapLouisville Water provides drinking water to 20% of Kentucky’s population and in 2026, will produce approximately 35 billion gallons of water, a small increase from 2025.

Louisville Water’s service area includes Jefferson County and parts of Bullitt and Oldham counties. Louisville Water partners with nine other water providers in Bullitt, Spencer, Nelson, and Hardin counties that purchase drinking water for their communities.

Infrastructure Investment = Quality and Reliability

Residual Line Project phase 3

Producing and delivering drinking water requires large infrastructure and Louisville Water’s $197 million capital budget prioritizes reliability. Funded primarily through bonds, the budget includes improvements to the Crescent Hill Water Treatment Plant, relining the Crescent Hill Reservoir, replacing an 1879 water main along Oak Street, finishing installing a new residual line for water treatment, and installing new water mains and fire hydrants throughout the service area.

Nelson Co expansion Louisville Water continues to see growth in communities that purchase water and projects in Hardin and Nelson counties will add new water mains, pumping stations and storage tanks.

2026 Water Rates & Affordability

The growth in water sales to other communities helps offset some of the expenses to operate the water system. Louisville Water continues to balance price increases for chemicals, power, and technology to support water production and delivery. Overall costs to operate and maintain the water systems are expected to increase by $7 million in 2026.

Louisville Water sets its water rates with a focus on quality, reliability, and affordability.  Beginning January 1, residential customers will see a monthly average increase of $1.25 for their drinking water service. To put that in perspective, the average customer who uses 4,000 gallons of water monthly can expect to pay $30.62.

Louisville Water’s customer portal, Pure Connect℠ allows customers to monitor their water usage and Drops of Kindness is an affordability program in partnership with Louisville MSD that offers options for customers who need help paying their water bill.