PFAS in Kentucky drinking water
EPA's final UCMR 5 data covers 231 public water systems in Kentucky, serving about 4.8 million people. PFAS turned up in 87 of them (38%). 9 averaged above at least one EPA limit at a sampling point, affecting about 199,762 people.
Highest PFOA and PFOS averages among systems serving 1,000 or more: Harrison CO Water Assoc (0.0 / 15.1 ppt), Cynthiana Municipal Water Works (0.0 / 14.8 ppt), Paducah Water Works (2.6 / 6.0 ppt), Georgetown Municipal Water Service (2.3 / 5.9 ppt) and Whitley CO Water District (4.5 / 1.1 ppt).
Every tested system in Kentucky
Largest first. PFOA and PFOS columns show the average at each system's worst sampling point; EPA's limit for each is 4 ppt. Filter by name:
| Water system | People | PFOA | PFOS | PFAS found | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Louisville Water Company · Louisville | 806,997 | 1.9 | - | 4 | Sample at limit |
| Kentucky-american Water CO · Lexington | 669,042 | - | - | 5 | Below limits |
| Northern Kentucky Water District · Ft. Thomas | 259,949 | - | - | 1 | Below limits |
| Warren County Water District · Bowling Green | 91,118 | - | - | 0 | None found |
| Hardin County Water District #2 · Elizabethtown | 76,326 | 1.6 | 1.3 | 7 | Sample at limit |
| Boone CO Water & Sewer District · Burlington | 66,300 | - | - | 1 | Below limits |
| Paducah Water Works · Paducah | 65,004 | 2.6 | 6.0 | 5 | Above limit |
| Owensboro Municipal Utilities · Owensboro | 60,473 | 2.5 | - | 1 | Sample at limit |
| Bowling Green Municipal Utilities · Bowling Green | 53,601 | - | - | 0 | None found |
| Frankfort Plant Board · Frankfort | 52,153 | - | - | 1 | Below limits |
| Georgetown Municipal Water Service · Georgetown | 44,608 | 2.3 | 5.9 | 8 | Above limit |
| Ashland Water Works · Ashland | 44,402 | - | - | 1 | Below limits |
| Mountain Water Dist · Pikeville | 44,057 | - | - | 0 | None found |
| Hopkinsville Water Environment Authority · Hopkinsville | 41,350 | - | - | 3 | Below limits |
| Oldham County Water District · Buckner | 38,409 | - | - | 0 | None found |
| Glasgow Water Company · Glasgow | 36,766 | - | - | 0 | None found |
| Richmond Utilities · Richmond | 35,640 | - | - | 0 | None found |
| Nicholasville Water Department · Nicholasville | 35,266 | - | - | 0 | None found |
| Mccreary County Water District · Whitley City | 34,439 | - | - | 1 | Below limits |
| S E Daviess CO Water District · Owensboro | 33,655 | 4.4 | - | 1 | Above limit |
| Meade County Water District · Bradenburg | 33,313 | - | - | 0 | None found |
| Danville City Water Works · Danville | 32,600 | - | - | 0 | None found |
| Henderson Water Utility/north · Henderson | 31,705 | - | - | 0 | None found |
| Franklin Water Works · Franklin | 31,602 | - | - | 1 | Below limits |
| Bardstown Municipal Water Dept · Bardstown | 31,185 | - | - | 0 | None found |
| Hardin County Water District #1 · Radcliff | 30,230 | - | - | 0 | None found |
| Winchester Municipal Utilities · Winchester | 29,823 | - | - | 0 | None found |
| Somerset Water Service · Somerset | 29,700 | - | - | 0 | None found |
| Florence Water & Sewer · Florence | 29,351 | - | - | 0 | None found |
| Madisonville Light & Water · Sedalia | 28,102 | - | - | 1 | Below limits |
| Prestonsburg City Utilities · Prestonsburg | 26,788 | - | - | 0 | None found |
| Hazard Water Department · Hazard | 26,730 | - | - | 0 | None found |
| Murray Water System · Murray | 26,302 | - | - | 0 | None found |
| Madison CO Utilities District · Richmond | 25,120 | - | - | 0 | None found |
| Campbellsville Municipal Water · Campbellsville | 24,874 | - | - | 0 | None found |
| Paintsville Municipal Water Works · Paintsville | 24,354 | - | - | 0 | None found |
| Mt Washington Water Company · Mt Washington | 23,760 | 2.9 | - | 2 | Sample at limit |
| Shelbyville Water & Sewer Commission · Shelbyville | 23,760 | - | - | 1 | Below limits |
| Hardin CO. Water Dist #1/ft. Knox · Radcliff | 23,600 | - | - | 0 | None found |
| Western Pulaski CO Water District · Somerset | 23,264 | - | - | 0 | None found |
| Taylorsville Water Works · Taylorsville | 22,286 | 2.8 | - | 2 | Sample at limit |
| Columbia/adair Utilities District · Campbellsville | 22,113 | - | - | 0 | None found |
| Southeastern Water Assoc/nelson Valley · Somerset | 21,895 | - | - | 0 | None found |
| Monticello Water & Sewer Commission · Monticello | 21,000 | - | - | 0 | None found |
| Bullock Pen Water District · Crittenden | 20,048 | - | - | 2 | Below limits |
| Grayson County Water District · Leitchfield | 20,033 | - | - | 0 | None found |
| Rowan Water INC · Morehead | 18,765 | - | - | 0 | None found |
| Hardinsburg Ro Wtp · Hardinsburg | 18,437 | - | - | 0 | None found |
| Edmonson CO Water District · Brownsville | 17,848 | - | - | 0 | None found |
| Versailles Water System · Versailles | 17,822 | - | - | 2 | Below limits |
| Henry County Water District #2 · Campbellsburg | 17,716 | - | - | 0 | None found |
| Henderson County Water District · Henderson | 17,447 | - | - | 0 | None found |
| Green River Valley Water District · Horse Cave | 17,431 | - | - | 0 | None found |
| Christian CO Water District · Hopkinsville | 17,248 | - | - | 0 | None found |
| Laurel CO Water District #2 · London | 16,899 | - | - | 1 | Below limits |
| Muhlenberg CO Water District · Greenville | 16,845 | - | - | 0 | None found |
| Harrison CO Water Assoc · Cynthiana | 16,736 | - | 15.1 | 7 | Above limit |
| Pineville Water System · Pineville | 16,573 | - | - | 0 | None found |
| Ohio County Water District · Hartford | 16,511 | - | - | 0 | None found |
| Barbourville Utilities · Barbourville | 16,420 | - | - | 1 | Below limits |
| Allen County Water District · Scottsville | 16,398 | - | - | 0 | None found |
| Mt Sterling Water Works · Mt Sterling | 16,391 | - | - | 0 | None found |
| Marion County Water District · Lebanon | 16,311 | - | - | 0 | None found |
| North Marshall Water District #1 · Benton | 16,276 | - | - | 0 | None found |
| Corbin Utilities Commission · Corbin | 16,065 | 4.1 | - | 5 | Above limit |
| East Laurel Water District · London | 16,062 | - | - | 1 | Below limits |
| Green Taylor Water District · Grennsburg | 15,497 | - | - | 0 | None found |
| Southern Water & Sewer District · Mcdoqwell | 15,110 | - | - | 0 | None found |
| Wood Creek Water District · London | 14,892 | - | - | 1 | Below limits |
| West Laurel Water Assoc INC · London | 14,878 | - | - | 0 | None found |
| Garrard CO Water Assoc INC · Lancaster | 14,806 | - | - | 0 | None found |
| Lawrenceburg Water & Sewer Dept · Lawrenceburg | 14,748 | - | - | 2 | Below limits |
| Southern Madison Water District · Berea | 14,707 | - | - | 0 | None found |
| North Shelby Water District · Bagdad | 14,660 | 1.0 | - | 1 | Sample at limit |
| Barkley Lake Water District · Cadiz | 14,284 | - | - | 0 | None found |
| Butler County Water System INC · Bowling Green | 14,256 | - | - | 1 | Below limits |
| Paris Water Works · Paris | 14,139 | - | - | 4 | Below limits |
| Jackson CO Water Association · Mckee | 13,629 | - | - | 0 | None found |
| North Nelson Water District · Coxs Creek | 13,365 | 1.4 | - | 3 | Sample at limit |
| Springfield Water Works · Springfield | 13,205 | - | - | 0 | None found |
| Big Sandy Water District · Catlettsburg | 13,044 | - | - | 3 | Sample at limit |
| Western Rockcastle Water Assoc · Mt Vernon | 12,623 | - | - | 0 | None found |
| Eubank Water System · Eubank | 12,492 | - | - | 0 | None found |
| East Casey CO Water District · Liberty | 12,460 | - | - | 0 | None found |
| Mayfield Electric & Water · Mayfield | 12,379 | - | - | 0 | None found |
| Greenup Water System · Greenup | 12,193 | - | - | 0 | None found |
| Water Service Corporation of Kentucky · Middlesboro | 12,022 | - | - | 0 | None found |
| E Daviess CO Water Assoc INC · Knottsville | 11,997 | 2.5 | - | 1 | Sample at limit |
| Rattlesnake Ridge Water District · Grayson | 11,397 | - | - | 0 | None found |
| Manchester Water Works · Manchester | 11,349 | - | - | 1 | Below limits |
| Maysville Utility Commission · Maysville | 11,263 | - | - | 1 | Below limits |
| Grayson Utility Commission · Grayson | 10,950 | - | - | 0 | None found |
| Bath County Water District · Salt Lick | 10,083 | - | - | 1 | Below limits |
| Lagrange Utilities Commission · Lagrange | 10,067 | - | - | 0 | None found |
| Berea Municipal Utilities · Berea | 9,972 | - | - | 0 | None found |
| Whitley CO Water District · Williamsburg | 9,825 | 4.5 | 1.1 | 6 | Above limit |
| Todd County Water District · Elkton | 9,801 | - | - | 1 | Below limits |
| North Mercer Water District · Salvisa | 9,775 | - | - | 2 | Below limits |
| Fleming CO Water Association · Flemingsburg | 9,693 | - | - | 0 | None found |
| Flatwoods Water Company · Flatwoods | 9,649 | 1.6 | - | 3 | Sample at limit |
| Pikeville Water Department · Pikeville | 9,638 | - | - | 0 | None found |
| Hyden Leslie CO Water District · Hyden | 9,614 | - | - | 0 | None found |
| Monroe County Water District · Tompkinville, Ky | 9,608 | - | - | 0 | None found |
| Crittenden-livingston CO Water District · Salem | 9,571 | - | 1.8 | 2 | Sample at limit |
| Estill CO Water District · Irvine, | 9,501 | - | - | 0 | None found |
| Cumberland Falls Highway Water District · Corbin | 9,498 | 3.3 | - | 6 | Sample at limit |
| Russell Springs Water & Sewer · Russell Springs | 9,409 | - | - | 1 | Below limits |
| Stanford Water Works · Stanford | 9,284 | - | - | 0 | None found |
| Larue County Water District #1 · Hodgenville | 9,062 | - | - | 0 | None found |
| East Logan Water District · Russellvile | 9,060 | - | - | 0 | None found |
| Morehead Utility Plant Board · Morehead | 9,052 | - | - | 0 | None found |
| Albany Water Works · Albany | 9,042 | - | - | 0 | None found |
| Martin CO Water District #1 · Inez | 9,003 | - | - | 0 | None found |
| Cannonsburg Water District · Ashland | 8,953 | 1.7 | - | 2 | Sample at limit |
| Simpson County Water District · Bowling Green | 8,946 | - | - | 1 | Below limits |
| Magoffin County Water District · Salyersville | 8,925 | - | - | 0 | None found |
| London Utility Commission · London | 8,855 | - | - | 1 | Below limits |
| Jessamine S Elkhorn Water Dist · Nicholasville | 8,826 | - | - | 0 | None found |
| Oak Grove Utilities Office · Oak Grove | 8,762 | - | - | 1 | Below limits |
| Russellville Mun Water Works · Russellville | 8,613 | - | - | 1 | Below limits |
| Edmonton Water Works · Edmonton | 8,515 | - | - | 0 | None found |
| South Hopkins Water District · Dawson Springs, Ky 42408 | 8,440 | - | - | 1 | Below limits |
| Leitchfield Water Works · Leitchfield | 8,438 | - | - | 0 | None found |
| Beattyville Water Works · Beattyville | 8,428 | 1.4 | 1.4 | 6 | Sample at limit |
| So Anderson Water District · Lawrenceburg | 8,417 | - | - | 1 | Below limits |
| Knox County Utility Commission · Barbourville | 8,313 | - | - | 0 | None found |
| Harrodsburg Municipal Water Department · Harrodsburg | 8,310 | - | - | 0 | None found |
| Louisa Water Department · Louisa | 8,236 | - | - | 0 | None found |
| Farmdale Water District · Frankfort | 8,203 | - | - | 3 | Below limits |
| Benton Water & Sewer · Benton | 7,981 | - | - | 0 | None found |
| Us 60 Water District · Bagdad | 7,892 | - | - | 0 | None found |
| Lebanon Water Works CO INC · Lebanon | 7,642 | - | - | 0 | None found |
| Morgan County Water District · West Liberty | 7,502 | - | - | 0 | None found |
| Jamestown Municipal Water Works · Jamestown | 7,402 | - | - | 0 | None found |
| East Clark CO Water District · Winchester | 7,366 | - | - | 0 | None found |
| Cynthiana Municipal Water Works · Cynthiana | 7,263 | - | 14.8 | 5 | Above limit |
| Jonathan Creek Water District · Benton | 7,182 | - | - | 0 | None found |
| Powell Valley Water District · Clay City | 7,128 | - | - | 0 | None found |
| Cumberland CO Water District · Burkesville | 7,099 | - | - | 0 | None found |
| Muhlenberg CO Water District #3 · Bremen | 7,075 | - | - | 2 | Below limits |
| Knott CO Water & Sewer District · Vicco | 7,056 | - | - | 0 | None found |
| Princeton Water & Sewer Commission · Princeton | 7,007 | - | - | 0 | None found |
| West Shelby Water District · Simpsonville | 6,994 | 1.1 | - | 1 | Sample at limit |
| Vanceburg Electric Plant Board · Vanceburg | 6,921 | - | - | 0 | None found |
| Scottsville Water Department · Scottsville | 6,864 | - | - | 0 | None found |
| Lake Village Water Association · Burgin | 6,855 | - | - | 3 | Below limits |
| Carrollton Utilities · Carrollton | 6,851 | - | - | 2 | Sample at limit |
| Jessamine CO Water District #1 · Nicholasville | 6,831 | - | - | 0 | None found |
| City of South Shore Water Works · South Shore | 6,798 | - | - | 1 | Below limits |
| Lyon County Water District · Kuttawa | 6,744 | - | 2.2 | 2 | Sample at limit |
| Vine Grove Water Department · Vine Grove | 6,703 | - | - | 0 | None found |
| Stanton Water Works · Stanton | 6,611 | - | - | 0 | None found |
| Campton Water System · Campton | 6,600 | - | - | 0 | None found |
| Western Lewis Rectorville Water District · Maysville | 6,534 | - | - | 1 | Below limits |
| Morehead State University · Morehead | 6,500 | - | - | 0 | None found |
| Bracken County Water District · Brooksville | 6,456 | - | - | 2 | Below limits |
| Olive Hill Municipal Water Works · Olive Hill | 6,192 | - | - | 0 | None found |
| Cadiz Municipal Water CO · Cadiz | 6,165 | - | - | 4 | Below limits |
| Union County Water District · Morganfield | 6,117 | 2.1 | - | 3 | Sample at limit |
| Caldwell County Water District · Princeton | 6,000 | - | - | 2 | Below limits |
| Kirksville Water Association · Richmond | 5,940 | - | - | 1 | Below limits |
| Science Hill Water Works · Science Hill | 5,940 | - | - | 0 | None found |
| Webster CO Water District · Dixon | 5,940 | - | - | 0 | None found |
| Carroll CO Water District #1 · Ghent | 5,934 | - | - | 0 | None found |
| Gallatin County Water District · Sparta | 5,860 | - | - | 0 | None found |
| Bloomfield Water & Sewer Dept · Bloomfield | 5,771 | - | - | 1 | Below limits |
| Wilmore Water Works · Wilmore | 5,762 | - | - | 2 | Below limits |
| Irvine Municipal Utilities · Irvine | 5,649 | - | - | 0 | None found |
| Greenville Utilities Commission · Greenville | 5,649 | - | - | 1 | Below limits |
| Central City Water & Sewer · Central City | 5,601 | - | - | 0 | None found |
| Williamsburg Water Department · Williamsburg | 5,554 | - | - | 0 | None found |
| Judy Water Association · Mt. Sterling | 5,539 | - | - | 0 | None found |
| East Pendleton Water District · Falmouth | 5,515 | 1.0 | - | 8 | Sample at limit |
| Williamstown Municipal Water Dept · Dry Ridge | 5,495 | - | - | 0 | None found |
| Mckinney Water District · Mckinney | 5,423 | - | - | 0 | None found |
| Hustonville Water Works · Hustonville | 5,420 | - | - | 0 | None found |
| Frenchburg Water Company · Frenchburg | 5,401 | - | - | 0 | None found |
| Booneville Water and Sewer · Booneville | 5,346 | - | - | 0 | None found |
| Jeffersonville Water System · Jeffersonville | 5,335 | - | - | 0 | None found |
| North Manchester Water Assoc · Manchester | 5,332 | - | - | 0 | None found |
| South Logan Water Association · Adairville | 5,198 | - | - | 0 | None found |
| Russell Water Company · Russell | 5,181 | - | - | 0 | None found |
| Morganfield Water Works · Morganfield | 5,170 | - | - | 2 | Below limits |
| Bronston Water Associaton INC · Bronston | 5,114 | - | - | 0 | None found |
| Breathitt CO Water District · Jackson | 5,068 | - | - | 0 | None found |
| Graves CO Water Dist - Consumers · Mayfield | 5,016 | - | - | 0 | None found |
| Mammoth Cave/central System · Cave City | 5,000 | - | - | 0 | None found |
| Mt Vernon Water Works · Brodhead | 4,951 | - | - | 0 | None found |
| Jackson Municipal Water Works · Jackson | 4,704 | - | - | 0 | None found |
| Nebo Water District · Nebo | 4,702 | - | - | 1 | Below limits |
| Fulton Municipal Water System · Fulton | 4,662 | - | - | 0 | None found |
| Hodgenville Water Works · Magnolia | 4,629 | - | - | 0 | None found |
| Flemingsburg Utility System · Flemingsburg | 4,583 | - | - | 0 | None found |
| Harlan Municipal Water Works · Harlan | 4,574 | - | - | 0 | None found |
| Lancaster Water Works · Lancaster | 4,573 | - | - | 0 | None found |
| Providence Water Works · Providence | 4,538 | - | - | 1 | Below limits |
| Buffalo Trail Water Assoc · Mayslick | 4,514 | 1.2 | 1.1 | 5 | Sample at limit |
| Cawood Water District · Cawood | 4,428 | - | - | 0 | None found |
| Calvert City Municipal Water Department · Calvert City | 4,381 | - | - | 0 | None found |
| Sharpsburg Water District · Sharpsburg | 4,332 | - | - | 2 | Below limits |
| Western Fleming Water District · Ewing | 4,262 | - | - | 3 | Below limits |
| Parksville Water District · Parksville | 4,261 | - | - | 4 | Below limits |
| So Woodford CO Water District · Frankfort | 4,218 | - | - | 1 | Below limits |
| Walton Waterworks Department · Walton | 4,173 | - | - | 2 | Below limits |
| Trimble CO Water District #1 · Bedford | 4,146 | - | - | 0 | None found |
| Nicholas CO Water District · Calisle | 4,089 | - | - | 1 | Below limits |
| Graves CO Water Dist - Hickory · Mayfield | 4,069 | - | - | 0 | None found |
| Grand Rivers Water System · Grand Rivers | 3,980 | - | 2.3 | 2 | Sample at limit |
| Beaver Dam Municipal Water & Sewer · Beaver Dam | 3,901 | - | - | 0 | None found |
| Whitesburg Water Works · Whitesburg | 3,861 | - | - | 0 | None found |
| Falmouth Water Department · Falmouth | 3,861 | - | - | 0 | None found |
| Milton Water & Sewer Department · Milton | 3,861 | - | - | 0 | None found |
| Eddyville Water Department · Eddyville | 3,843 | - | - | 0 | None found |
| North Hopkins Water District · Madisonville | 3,725 | - | - | 1 | Below limits |
| Pendleton CO Water District #1/south · Falmouth | 3,713 | - | - | 4 | Below limits |
| Whitesville Water Works · Whitesville | 3,672 | 5.4 | - | 1 | Above limit |
| Sandy Hook Water District · Sandy Hook | 3,528 | - | - | 0 | None found |
| Sturgis Water Works · Sturgis | 3,490 | 2.7 | - | 4 | Sample at limit |
| Caveland Environmental Authority, INC. · Cave City | 3,264 | - | - | 0 | None found |
| Hickman Water Department · Hickman | 3,191 | - | - | 0 | None found |
| North Mclean CO Water District · Livermore | 2,934 | 4.1 | - | 1 | Above limit |
| Brandenburg Water Works · Brandenburg | 2,880 | - | - | 0 | None found |
| Cumberland Municipal Water Works · Cumberland | 2,843 | - | - | 0 | None found |
| Ledbetter Water District · Ledbetter | 2,729 | 1.1 | 1.6 | 3 | Sample at limit |
| Dawson Springs Water & Sewer · Dawson Springs | 2,631 | - | - | 0 | None found |
| Levee Rd Water Association INC · Mt Sterling | 2,471 | - | - | 0 | None found |
| Sebree Water Department · Sebree | 1,743 | - | - | 0 | None found |
| Benham Water Plant · Benham | 855 | - | - | 0 | None found |
| Adairville Water Works · Auburn | 787 | - | - | 0 | None found |
| Arlington Water Department · Arlington | 301 | - | - | 0 | None found |
| Livingston Municipal Water Works | - | - | 1 | Below limits |
On a private well in Kentucky?
EPA's program only covers public systems. Private wells are never part of UCMR 5, so the only way to know is to test. Our well testing guide covers which lab tests to order, and the best well water systems covers what to install once you have results.
Cite this page
Well & Tap. "PFAS in Kentucky drinking water: results for 231 systems." Data: U.S. EPA UCMR 5, final release August 2026. https://wellandtap.com/pfas/kentucky/
Source: EPA UCMR 5 final occurrence data (August 2026); population from EPA SDWIS. Method.