Kentucky
Water quality data from the EPA Safe Drinking Water Information System
Water Systems
2,232
Active public water systems
Population Served
4.62M
Residents with piped water
Lead Violations
1
Systems exceeding 15 ppb
Copper Violations
35
Lead & Copper Rule
Average Lead Level
EPA Action Level: 15 ppb
MCLG (health goal): 0 ppb
Average across 464 systems with reported lead data.
Violations Detected
36 water systems in Kentucky have reported violations under the Lead and Copper Rule. These utilities are required to notify customers and take corrective action.
Water Systems: Highest Lead Levels
| System Name | City | Population | Lead Level | Status | Sample Date |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| ASHLAND | 44,402 | 14.00 ppb | OK | 2023-12-31 | |
| CADIZ | 14,284 | 13.00 ppb | OK | 2023-12-31 | |
| COLUMBIA | 22,088 | 11.00 ppb | OK | 2014-12-31 | |
| ELIZABETHTOWN | 76,326 | 6.00 ppb | OK | 2024-12-31 | |
| PARIS | 14,139 | 6.00 ppb | OK | 2024-12-31 | |
| MT VERNON | 12,623 | 6.00 ppb | OK | 2023-12-31 | |
| COLD SPRING | 63,346 | 6.00 ppb | OK | 1992-06-30 | |
| GEORGETOWN | 35,714 | 5.00 ppb | OK | 2024-12-31 | |
| BROWNSVILLE | 17,848 | 5.00 ppb | OK | 2023-12-31 | |
| PINEVILLE | 16,573 | 5.00 ppb | OK | 2023-12-31 | |
| KNOTTSVILLE | 11,997 | 3.61 ppb | OK | 2023-12-31 | |
| RADCLIFF | 30,230 | 3.00 ppb | OK | 2025-12-31 | |
| CAMPBELLSVILLE | 24,874 | 3.00 ppb | OK | 2023-12-31 | |
| SHELBYVILLE | 23,760 | 3.00 ppb | OK | 2025-12-31 | |
| TAYLORSVILLE | 22,286 | 3.00 ppb | OK | 2023-12-31 |
Showing top 15 of 453 systems with lead data. Action level: 15 ppb.
Systems With Active Violations
These water systems have exceeded EPA limits and must take corrective action.
HARDINSBURG · Pop. 18,437
Lead: 0.00 ppb (2025-12-31)
LONDON · Pop. 14,878
Lead: 2.00 ppb (2024-12-31)
Water Source Types
Air Quality
GoodAvg AQI
46.8
PM2.5
6.7 µg/m³
Unhealthy Days
8
Primary Pollutant
Ozone
Source: EPA AirNow & American Lung Association 2024 State of the Air. AQI scale: 0–50 Good · 51–100 Moderate · 101–150 Sensitive Groups · 151+ Unhealthy.
PFAS Contamination
Moderate DetectionPFAS (per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances), known as “forever chemicals,” are a group of synthetic chemicals that persist indefinitely in the environment and human body. The EPA set a maximum contaminant level (MCL) of 4 parts per trillion (ppt) for PFOA and PFOS in April 2024. View national PFAS tracker →
Systems Tested
198
PFAS Detected
82
Detection Rate
41.4%
Exceeding MCL (4 ppt)
18(9.1%)
Highest recorded level: 52 ppt (EPA MCL: 4 ppt). Listed among states with worst PFAS contamination; large systems with PFAS above federal threshold (USGS)