State Hub
Kentucky Water Quality
345
Utilities in database
5.0M
Residents served
2
With open violations
230
PFAS monitored
Quick Answer
Kentucky public drinking water is served by 345 EPA-tracked water systems, providing service to approximately 5.0 million residents through public utilities. 2 of those systems currently have open health-based violations on record in the EPA federal database. 230 systems have official PFAS monitoring records from the EPA UCMR 5 program (2023–2025). About 32% of KY residents use private wells, which fall outside federal utility compliance monitoring.
2 Kentucky water systems have open health-based violations recorded in EPA SDWIS. An open violation means a contaminant exceeded a federal limit and the violation has not been formally resolved in the federal database. Check individual utility pages for current status.
Open Health-Based Violations in Kentucky
Records sourced from EPA SDWIS. A record may be under review or resolved at the utility level but not yet updated in federal records. Water Utility Report does not determine whether water is safe to drink.
Drinking Water in Kentucky
Kentucky has 345 community water systems serving approximately 5.0 million residents. Primary water sources include surface water. The most commonly reported contaminants include disinfection byproducts, nitrates. 32% of Kentucky residents rely on private wells. DWR holds primary enforcement authority under the Safe Drinking Water Act.
Highest Risk Utilities
Kentucky systems with open health-based violations in EPA records.
Safest Large Utilities
Kentucky systems with no open health violations serving 10,000+ residents.
Utilities in Kentucky
26–50 of 345Hardin County Water District #1
KY0470393 · 30,230 served
Winchester Municipal Utilities
KY0250473 · 29,823 served
Somerset Water Service
KY1000403 · 29,700 served
Florence Water & Sewer
KY0080135 · 29,351 served
Madisonville Light & Water
KY0540936 · 28,102 served
Prestonsburg City Utilities
KY0360358 · 26,788 served
Hazard Water Department
KY0970184 · 26,730 served
Murray Water System
KY0180306 · 26,302 served
Madison Co Utilities District
KY0760224 · 25,120 served
Campbellsville Municipal Water
KY1090060 · 24,874 served
Paintsville Municipal Water Works
KY0580340 · 24,354 served
Mt Washington Water Company
KY0150300 · 23,760 served
Shelbyville Water & Sewer Commission
KY1060394 · 23,760 served
Hardin Co. Water Dist #1/ft. Knox
KY0470990 · 23,600 served
Western Pulaski Co Water District
KY1000363 · 23,264 served
Taylorsville Water Works
KY1080425 · 22,286 served
Columbia/adair Utilities District
KY0011016 · 22,113 served
Fort Campbell
KY0241001 · 22,000 served
Southeastern Water Assoc/nelson Valley
KY1000311 · 21,895 served
Monticello Water & Sewer Commission
KY1160291 · 21,000 served
Bullock Pen Water District
KY0410047 · 20,048 served
Grayson County Water District
KY0430616 · 20,033 served
Rowan Water Inc
KY1030375 · 18,765 served
Hardinsburg Ro Wtp
KY0140966 · 18,437 served
Edmonson Co Water District
KY0310114 · 17,848 served
Key Contaminant Concerns in Kentucky
These contaminants appear most frequently in Kentucky utility records or pose elevated risk in this region based on EPA data.
Nitrates
Nitrate (NO₃⁻) is a nitrogen-containing compound that forms naturally through the decomposition of organic matter. At elevated concentrations — almost always caused by human activity — nitrate is converted in the digestive system to nitrite, which then reacts with hemoglobin to form methemoglobin, a form of hemoglobin that cannot carry oxygen. In the body, nitrite also reacts with amines in food to form N-nitroso compounds (nitrosamines) — known carcinogens classified by the IARC as Group 2A (probable human carcinogens). The United States applies over 23 million tons of nitrogen fertilizer annually, making agricultural runoff the dominant source of nitrate contamination in U.S. groundwater.
EPA limit: 10 mg/L
DBPs
When utilities add chlorine to water to kill pathogens, it reacts with dissolved organic matter — leaves, algae, soil — to produce disinfection byproducts (DBPs). Over 600 DBPs have been identified. The EPA regulates two groups: total trihalomethanes (TTHMs, including chloroform) and haloacetic acids (HAA5). DBP levels tend to be highest in surface water systems and in warm months when organic matter is elevated.
EPA limit: 80 µg/L (TTHMs) / 60 µg/L (HAA5)
Independent Water Testing
Find a certified lab in Kentucky
Utility compliance records show what water systems report to the EPA. An independent test from a certified laboratory confirms what's actually in your tap water. Kentucky labs can test for PFAS, lead, nitrates, bacteria, and dozens of other contaminants.
Explore Water Quality in Kentucky
Hardin County Water District #1
Violation history, PFAS records, and official source links
Winchester Municipal Utilities
Violation history, PFAS records, and official source links
Somerset Water Service
Violation history, PFAS records, and official source links
PFAS monitoring records — Kentucky
230 water systems in Kentucky with EPA UCMR 5 records
Active drinking water violations
2 open health-based violations on record — view official EPA SDWIS data
Lead in Kentucky drinking water
State-specific lead data, violation utilities, and testing guidance
PFAS in Kentucky drinking water
State-specific PFAS data, MCL context, and treatment options
Certified water testing labs in Kentucky
Labs certified for PFAS (EPA 533/537.1), lead, and bacteria testing
Water treatment options
Reverse osmosis, activated carbon, and filtration guides with cost ranges
Data sources and methodology
How WaterUtilityReport.com sources and validates official EPA data
Common Questions About Kentucky Drinking Water
Does Kentucky drinking water have PFAS?
230 Kentucky water systems have EPA UCMR 5 PFAS monitoring records (2023–2025)
Which Kentucky water utilities have open violations?
2 systems have open health-based violations in EPA SDWIS — search for your utility
How do I test my water in Kentucky?
State-certified labs for PFAS (EPA 533/537.1), lead, nitrate, and bacteria testing
What treatment removes PFAS from KY tap water?
Reverse osmosis removes PFAS, lead, arsenic, and nitrates — cost, maintenance, and NSF certification explained
What do Kentucky PFAS records tell me about my water?
EPA limits, health context, and what UCMR 5 detection above MRL means for your water
How is Kentucky water quality data sourced here?
EPA SDWIS violations, UCMR 5 PFAS records, and CCR data — sources, accuracy notes, and limitations
Kentucky Water FAQs
Data sources: Utility compliance and violation data from EPA SDWIS (Safe Drinking Water Information System). PFAS monitoring records from EPA UCMR 5 (Unregulated Contaminant Monitoring Rule 5, 2023–2025). Contaminant data from EPA and ATSDR public references. This page summarizes public records — it is not a compliance determination. Methodology →
Last updated: 2026-04-22