By Erica Rucker, Quill & Ink Freelance
The Louisville Water
Company is one of the oldest water treatment facilities in the nation with an
edge in innovative water filtration technology. In Louisville, the first
pumping station, which is located on River Road, is home to Louisville Water Tower,
which now houses a museum and event space. It was put into operation in 1860
and operated with its largest pumps until 1910.
At Louisville Water Tower, Megan Jones supervises all events and operations
of the venue. Jones, a UofL graduate with a Bachelor of Business, began her
career in customer service working in restaurants and groceries. Then she began
to put on conferences for investment groups. After a stint in catering, she
landed at Louisville Water Tower.
“I oversee all the
operations out of this building. Whether it's an event — I classify everything
down here as an event if anybody's coming in the building, it's an event,” said
Jones. ”Whether it's school kids or a bride and groom, it all involves some
sort of personal touch. My staff and I, we book all the events; we set up; we
tear down; we do day-of coordination, we run the field trips. You name it and
we do it.”
Just over 10 years ago,
the space was converted to WaterWorks Museum and an event venue but closed
two years ago for renovations (during the larger Water Tower restoration
project) and reopened in March. Reservations are now required for events and
museum access.
The Museum focuses on the
history of Louisville Water in the community as well as how the water
supply is collected, cleaned and treated, and delivered to nearly a million
people every day. The drinking water is the only trademarked water in the country:
Louisville Pure Tap®.
Now that the space has
reopened to the public, new initiatives are beginning to take shape. One of
those being public days where, for a small fee, the public can get a walking
tour of the grounds and get to see inside a working pump station. The venue will
also be the starting and end point for the Pure Tap 5K in September which will
enter its 11th year in 2024.
The space is being more
intentional about the programming now that it has reopened.
“For example, the outdoor
events must meet a certain criteria and have a purpose to give back to the
community, and kind of support our mission. We just wanna be a little bit more
mindful about what we're doing on property versus just anything.”
Visit
LouisvilleWater.com/LouisvilleWaterTower for event reservations or to schedule
a tour.
