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
101–125 of 345Flatwoods Water Company
KY0450132 · 9,649 served
Pikeville Water Department
KY0980350 · 9,638 served
Hyden Leslie Co Water District
KY0660204 · 9,614 served
Monroe County Water District
KY0860150 · 9,608 served
Crittenden-livingston Co Water District
KY0700532 · 9,571 served
Estill Co Water District
KY0330123 · 9,501 served
Cumberland Falls Highway Water District
KY1180093 · 9,498 served
Russell Springs Water & Sewer
KY1040377 · 9,409 served
Stanford Water Works
KY0690417 · 9,284 served
Larue County Water District #1
KY0620237 · 9,062 served
East Logan Water District
KY0710951 · 9,060 served
Morehead Utility Plant Board
KY1030292 · 9,052 served
Albany Water Works
KY0270003 · 9,042 served
Martin Co Water District #1
KY0800273 · 9,003 served
Cannonsburg Water District
KY0100064 · 8,953 served
Simpson County Water District
KY1070398 · 8,946 served
Magoffin County Water District
KY0770525 · 8,925 served
London Utility Commission
KY0630255 · 8,855 served
Jessamine S Elkhorn Water Dist
KY0570249 · 8,826 served
Oak Grove Utilities Office
KY0240329 · 8,762 served
Russellville Mun Water Works
KY0710378 · 8,613 served
Edmonton Water Works
KY0850115 · 8,515 served
South Hopkins Water District
KY0540406 · 8,440 served
Leitchfield Water Works
KY0430244 · 8,438 served
Beattyville Water Works
KY0650024 · 8,428 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
Flatwoods Water Company
Violation history, PFAS records, and official source links
Pikeville Water Department
Violation history, PFAS records, and official source links
Hyden Leslie Co Water District
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