Is there PFAS in Big Sandy Water District water?
Some. At least one sample reached an EPA limit, but the average at every sampling point stayed below it.
Big Sandy Water District
Serves 13,044 people · 16 PFOA samples from 4 sampling points · Dec 2023 to Oct 2024
One or more samples at an EPA limit
PFOA Perfluorooctanoic acid
not detected
PFOS Perfluorooctanesulfonic acid
not detected
HFPO-DA GenX (HFPO-DA)
6.2 ppt avg · max 25.0
Hazard index GenX, PFBS, PFNA, PFHxS combined
0.6 avg · max 2.5
Also detected, no federal limit: PFBS, PFPeA.
Big Sandy Water District is a public water system drawing on surface water, based in Catlettsburg, Kentucky, serving about 13,044 people, including Blaine, Catlettsburg, Denton, Grayson, Hitchins, Rush. Under EPA's Fifth Unregulated Contaminant Monitoring Rule it was tested for 29 PFAS and lithium 16 times across 4 sampling points between Dec 2023 and Oct 2024.
Every PFAS detected
Not detected: 4:2 FTS, PFDoA, PFHxA, PFUnA, 11Cl-PF3OUdS, 9Cl-PF3ONS, ADONA, PFMPA, 6:2 FTS, PFDA, PFEESA, 8:2 FTS, NFDHA, PFMBA, PFBA, PFOS, PFNA, PFHxS, PFHpA, NEtFOSAA, PFPeS, PFOA, PFTA, NMeFOSAA, PFHpS, PFTrDA.
Lithium, tested in the same program: highest 23.1 ppb, detected in 5 of 16 samples. EPA's health-based screening level is 10 ppb.
What the EPA limits mean here
In April 2024 EPA set enforceable limits of 4 ppt for PFOA and PFOS, 10 ppt each for PFHxS, PFNA and GenX, and a hazard index of 1 for mixtures. Utilities were given until 2029 to comply. In May 2026 EPA proposed keeping only the PFOA and PFOS limits and moving that deadline to 2031. Until that proposal is final, the 2024 limits stand.
Compliance is judged on a running annual average at each entry point, so we show the average at this system's worst sampling point next to its single highest result. UCMR 5 results do not by themselves put a utility in or out of compliance.
What you can do at home
Two routes work for PFAS. For drinking and cooking water only, a reverse osmosis system certified to NSF/ANSI 58 with a PFOA/PFOS reduction claim is the cheapest proven option. To treat every tap and shower, a whole-house carbon system with enough contact time works, but check that the maker has PFAS test data, not just a marketing claim. See the best filters for PFAS and how PFAS removal works.
Other systems in Kentucky
All 231 tested systems in Kentucky
ZIP codes served
41124 41129 41132 41143 41146 41168 41201 41230 41232 41240 41254 41264
As reported by the utility to EPA. Neighbouring ZIPs are often split between systems; your water bill names yours.
Cite this page
Well & Tap. "PFAS in Big Sandy Water District water: EPA UCMR 5 results." Data: U.S. EPA Fifth Unregulated Contaminant Monitoring Rule, final release August 2026, PWSID KY0100944. https://wellandtap.com/pfas/kentucky/big-sandy-water-district/
About this data
Source: U.S. EPA, UCMR 5 occurrence data, final release August 2026 (PWSID KY0100944). Population: EPA SDWIS. Averages count results below the reporting level as zero, the same convention EPA uses for running annual averages. Full method.
