Wastewater
Wastewater is water that has been used for human purposes such as washing, flushing, or manufacturing and contains waste products as a result. This water must be collected, treated, and properly discharged in order to protect human health and the environment. The Clean Water Act provides regulations that govern how this must be done and the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), Kentucky Division of Water (KDOW), and Lexington-Fayette Urban County Government (LFUCG) provide oversight and enforce these regulations.
The University of Kentucky generates over 500,000 gallons of wastewater per day that is collected and discharged to the LFUCG for treatment. A permit is issued by the LFUCG to the University governing this discharge. UK’s Environmental Quality Management Department is responsible for ensuring that the University complies with the requirements of this permit. Detailed information about UK’s permit obligations as well as the wastewater program can be found on the following pages.
Detailed information about the Lexington-Fayette Urban County Government (LFUCG) industrial user discharge permit issued to the University that allows the discharge of wastewater into the LFUCG sanitary sewer system.
Find out more about UK’s wastewater, including where it comes from, the University’s collection system, and how it gets treated.
Due to the multiple dining options across campus, the University must protect the sanitary sewer from excess Fats, Oils, and Greases (FOG). Learn about grease interceptors, local regulatory requirements, and UK’s program here.
Regulations prohibit certain materials from being disposed of down the drain. Learn about what can and cannot go down the drain, how to seek drain disposal approval, and how to dispose of substances that are not drain appropriate.
In addition to main campus, UK has several satellite locations where wastewater is managed. Learn about these systems here.
During the course of operations and maintenance at the University it may be necessary to perform a one-time discharge to the sanitary sewer system that is an exception to normal day-to-day operations. Learn about these discharges and how they are managed.