Louisville Pure Tap® Wins on Race Days!

While thousands of runners are getting those final steps in ahead of the Kentucky Derby Festival mini/MARATHON, Louisville Water is taking all the steps to keep them safe and hydrated throughout the race.

There are 17 water stops set up along the courses that will take runners through downtown Louisville, Central Park, and Churchill Downs, and Iroquois Park for the full marathoners. Additionally, other crews follow the race route to make sure any maintenance work is completed and all meter lids are secured to give runners a smooth run.

Louisville Water’s work begins well before the race participants show up on Saturday.

“We’ll meet with the KDF Festival, and they’ll basically just give us a map or a list of the water stops,” explained Plumber Leader Chris Meeks.

As many years as Meeks has done this, he could probably run through the checklist with his eyes closed. He leads the crew that thoroughly checks all the access points to test the water pressure and make sure Louisville Pure Tap® can flow freely.

Distribution Water Quality Specialist Christina Ferguson taps into the science. She does a few tests in the field, looking at the turbidity (cloudiness factor) and chlorine levels, before taking samples back to Louisville Water’s EPA-certified lab where scientists analyze them. Together, the team ensures only high-quality Pure Tap is served at the water stops.

“Once it gets out into the (distribution) system, it’s pretty good. With Pure Tap specifically, we’re checking the environment to make sure it won’t contaminate our already good water,” Ferguson explained. “I often see the races and things on TV, and I tell my parents they have good water. I tested it, I know,” she said with pride.

On race day, a large crew goes stop by stop to set up the hoses for every station before the volunteers arrive.

“We usually stay together, so everyone knows where everything’s at. We come in early enough to where it’s set up long before it’s needed.” Meeks said, “We never know exactly what time the water stop staff are coming in. We try to beat them setting up their tables. It’s easier to move a table than a water stop.”

Meanwhile, other Louisville Water employees are filling up cups at the hydration station outside our company headquarters on South Third Street. You’ll also find us at the Pure Tap tent inside the “runners reunite” celebration area at the finish line.

We expect to serve an estimated 14,000 gallons of Pure Tap on Saturday. If you’re running the inaugural Kentucky Derby Festival 5K, we have you covered with water stops there too!

Pure Tap pro-tip: drink water before you’re thirsty. If you’re thirsty, your body is already dehydrated. So, fuel up at those 17 water stops!