Tagged: water

IdeaFestival 2012 will kick off with a day-long conference about water--how we use it, what happens when there's not enough of it and how groups and countries are addressing the global water crisis.

Kentucky officials have declared a water shortage watch for 27 counties, mostly in central and western parts of the state.

Nearly all of the state outside of Jefferson and nearby counties is in some degree of drought. Many have been classified as abnormally dry, but central and northern Kentucky are in a level one drought, and the entire western part of the state is in a level two drought. That means in some places, water is becoming scarce.

The state issues water shortage watches when drought conditions could possibly threaten the availability of drinking water supplies.

Researchers from the University of Kentucky will begin interviewing citizens, businesses and non-profits this week about Floyds Fork. This is part of a collaboration between state and federal agencies to rehabilitate the watershed.

Floyds Fork has been designated as “impaired,” which means its waterway can’t fulfill its designated functions. The state Division of Water has asked the EPA to help determine the maximum amount of pollution that can be discharged into the watershed without exceeding the state water quality standard.