For 166 Years, Louisville Water has Helped Businesses Grow

What do plants, jerky, pie, hop water, kombucha and coffee have in common? Louisville Pure Tap®.

Guests at Louisville Business First’s Made in Kentucky event found products from local businesses at every seat, including Above the Dirt Garden Shop, Louisville Vegan Jerky, Kern’s Kitchen, Kentucky Hop Water, Elixir Kombucha and Blak Koffee.

They are just a few of the more than 24,000 businesses that rely on Louisville Water today. Supporting business isn’t new for us. It’s been part of our story for 166 years.

On October 16, 1860, Louisville Water Company pumped its first gallon of water to the city of Louisville. The primary goal was fire protection, but the demand soon evolved to support bakeries, banks, distilleries, hospitals, printing offices, stores, restaurants, and more!

The Louisville Fire Department, the courthouse (now known as Metro Hall), Louisville Gas (now known as Louisville Gas & Electric), and the City Marine Hospital (now the University of Louisville Hospital) are thought to be some of the longest-known subscribers to Louisville Water.

The businesses Louisville Water serves have changed dramatically since 1860 (street sprinklers and bath houses were on the customer list in 1860), but water remains essential to many of the industries that define our region, including health care, agriculture, education, distilling and manufacturing.

With more than 1,500 manufacturers in Louisville and nearly 100,000 people employed, manufacturing is a significant driver of Louisville’s economy. Louisville’s manufacturing sector alone uses an average of two million gallons of Louisville Pure Tap every day.

“It was a pleasure to join leaders from some of Kentucky’s top manufacturers at Louisville Business First’s “Made in Kentucky” event,” said Brittany Cox, Kentucky Cabinet for Economic Development’s director of business and community development.

“As the state continues to build upon year after year of record economic growth, we recognize the importance of water infrastructure in helping these companies continue to succeed. Thank you to Louisville Water for their direct input into some of the best products made in the Commonwealth.”

That connection to place came through during the Made in Kentucky panel. Michael Land, executive director of advanced manufacturing at GE Appliances, spoke about the pride that comes with manufacturing in Kentucky and how being in Louisville helps GE connect with its customers and community.