Water Quality in Kentucky
374 water systems • 248 cities • EPA SDWIS Data
374
Water Systems
9,427
Total Violations
1,801
Health-Based Violations
4,556,638
Population Served
Overview
Kentucky ranks 38th among all U.S. states for total drinking water violations, out of 51 states tracked. The state has 9,427 EPA Safe Drinking Water Act violations on record across 374 water systems serving 248 cities. Of those, 1,801 are health-based violations, meaning a regulated contaminant was measured above the EPA-established safe level. Kentucky's total violation count is 73% below the national average. Water systems in Kentucky serve approximately 4,556,638 people. The most frequently cited contaminants in Kentucky violations include E. coli, Total Haloacetic Acids (HAA5), Gross Alpha, TTHM, Nitrate.
Cities with Most Violations in Kentucky
| # | City | Violations | Health-Based | Water Systems | Population |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Murray | 341 | 0 | 2 | 26,376 |
| 2 | Benton | 218 | 0 | 3 | 31,439 |
| 3 | Baxter | 216 | 2 | 8 | 9,783 |
| 4 | Cunningham | 196 | 0 | 1 | 475 |
| 5 | Kevil | 194 | 0 | 1 | 1,782 |
| 6 | Providence | 143 | 125 | 1 | 4,538 |
| 7 | Mt Sterling | 131 | 64 | 3 | 21,407 |
| 8 | Pikeville | 120 | 93 | 2 | 53,695 |
| 9 | Neon | 114 | 0 | 1 | 3,212 |
| 10 | Martin | 101 | 49 | 1 | 1,167 |
Largest Cities in Kentucky
| # | City | Population | Violations | Water Systems |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Louisville | 764,769 | 1 | 1 |
| 2 | Lexington | 302,599 | 20 | 3 |
| 3 | Ft. Thomas | 199,460 | 1 | 1 |
| 4 | Bowling Green | 167,921 | 15 | 4 |
| 5 | Owensboro | 94,128 | 3 | 2 |
| 6 | Elizabethtown | 76,326 | 6 | 1 |
| 7 | Somerset | 74,859 | 17 | 3 |
| 8 | London | 71,586 | 39 | 5 |
| 9 | Richmond | 66,700 | 32 | 3 |
| 10 | Burlington | 66,525 | 19 | 3 |
All Cities in Kentucky
| City | Population | Violations | Health Violations | Contaminants |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Louisville | 764,769 | 1 | 0 | |
| Lexington | 302,599 | 20 | 1 | Total Haloacetic Acids (HAA5) |
| Ft. Thomas | 199,460 | 1 | 0 | |
| Bowling Green | 167,921 | 15 | 2 | Total Haloacetic Acids (HAA5) |
| Owensboro | 94,128 | 3 | 0 | |
| Elizabethtown | 76,326 | 6 | 1 | Total Haloacetic Acids (HAA5) |
| Somerset | 74,859 | 17 | 1 | Total Haloacetic Acids (HAA5) |
| London | 71,586 | 39 | 3 | Gross Alpha, Stage 2 DBP |
| Richmond | 66,700 | 32 | 2 | E. coli, Stage 2 DBP |
| Burlington | 66,525 | 19 | 0 | |
| Frankfort | 66,164 | 68 | 1 | Gross Alpha |
| Paducah | 65,004 | 1 | 1 | TTHM |
| Hopkinsville | 58,598 | 13 | 4 | TTHM, Total Haloacetic Acids (HAA5) |
| Radcliff | 53,830 | 3 | 0 | |
| Pikeville | 53,695 | 120 | 93 | TTHM |
| Ashland | 53,355 | 49 | 17 | E. coli, TTHM, Total Haloacetic Acids (HAA5) |
| Nicholasville | 50,923 | 85 | 39 | E. coli, TTHM, Total Haloacetic Acids (HAA5) |
| Henderson | 49,206 | 32 | 4 | Total Haloacetic Acids (HAA5) |
| Campbellsville | 46,987 | 26 | 1 | E. coli |
| Buckner | 38,409 | 2 | 0 | |
| Winchester | 37,189 | 9 | 5 | Total Haloacetic Acids (HAA5) |
| Glasgow | 36,766 | 2 | 0 | |
| Georgetown | 35,714 | 4 | 0 | |
| Whitley City | 34,439 | 9 | 0 | |
| Morehead | 34,317 | 28 | 9 | E. coli, TTHM |
| Bradenburg | 33,313 | 17 | 4 | E. coli |
| Danville | 32,600 | 13 | 4 | Total Haloacetic Acids (HAA5) |
| Benton | 31,439 | 218 | 0 | |
| Bardstown | 31,185 | 11 | 1 | E. coli |
| Florence | 29,351 | 6 | 0 | |
| Leitchfield | 28,471 | 20 | 3 | Total Haloacetic Acids (HAA5) |
| Sedalia | 28,196 | 23 | 5 | E. coli, TTHM |
| Hazard | 27,030 | 54 | 8 | TTHM, Total Haloacetic Acids (HAA5) |
| Prestonsburg | 26,788 | 3 | 1 | TTHM |
| Murray | 26,376 | 341 | 0 | |
| Mayfield | 25,986 | 44 | 2 | E. coli |
| Corbin | 25,563 | 23 | 14 | Total Haloacetic Acids (HAA5) |
| Barbourville | 24,733 | 39 | 4 | TTHM, Total Haloacetic Acids (HAA5) |
| Berea | 24,679 | 17 | 1 | Gross Alpha |
| Paintsville | 24,354 | 18 | 6 | Contaminant 2920, Total Haloacetic Acids (HAA5) |
| Cynthiana | 23,999 | 19 | 9 | Gross Alpha, Total Haloacetic Acids (HAA5) |
| Lebanon | 23,953 | 10 | 6 | E. coli, Total Haloacetic Acids (HAA5) |
| Mt Washington | 23,760 | 9 | 0 | |
| Shelbyville | 23,760 | 13 | 2 | Total Haloacetic Acids (HAA5) |
| Scottsville | 23,262 | 8 | 3 | Total Haloacetic Acids (HAA5) |
| Lawrenceburg | 23,165 | 21 | 12 | Total Haloacetic Acids (HAA5) |
| Bagdad | 22,552 | 25 | 0 | |
| Greenville | 22,494 | 33 | 22 | E. coli, TTHM, Total Haloacetic Acids (HAA5) |
| Grayson | 22,347 | 33 | 10 | Contaminant 2920, Total Haloacetic Acids (HAA5) |
| Taylorsville | 22,286 | 4 | 0 | |
| Fort Campbell | 22,000 | 6 | 0 | |
| Mt Sterling | 21,407 | 131 | 64 | TTHM, Total Haloacetic Acids (HAA5) |
| Monticello | 21,000 | 11 | 1 | E. coli |
| Versailles | 20,466 | 13 | 6 | Contaminant 2920, Stage 2 DBP |
| Cadiz | 20,449 | 13 | 0 | |
| Horse Cave | 20,175 | 12 | 0 | |
| Crittenden | 20,048 | 6 | 2 | TTHM |
| Hartford | 19,630 | 49 | 14 | E. coli, Gross Alpha, Total Haloacetic Acids (HAA5) |
| Lancaster | 19,379 | 11 | 0 | |
| Hardinsburg | 18,437 | 3 | 0 | |
| Brownsville | 17,848 | 93 | 49 | Bromate, E. coli |
| Maysville | 17,797 | 26 | 1 | E. coli |
| Campbellsburg | 17,716 | 13 | 0 | |
| Pineville | 16,913 | 47 | 5 | Total Haloacetic Acids (HAA5) |
| Manchester | 16,681 | 33 | 9 | Contaminant 2920, TTHM, Total Haloacetic Acids (HAA5) |
| Williamsburg | 15,700 | 36 | 26 | TTHM, Total Haloacetic Acids (HAA5) |
| Grennsburg | 15,497 | 22 | 11 | TTHM, Total Haloacetic Acids (HAA5) |
| Irvine | 15,150 | 38 | 7 | Contaminant 2920, E. coli, TTHM +1 more |
| Franklin | 15,150 | 2 | 0 | |
| Mcdoqwell | 15,110 | 61 | 41 | E. coli, TTHM |
| Hodgenville | 15,048 | 56 | 43 | E. coli, TTHM, Total Haloacetic Acids (HAA5) |
| Mckee | 14,960 | 66 | 8 | Total Haloacetic Acids (HAA5) |
| Liberty | 14,762 | 54 | 4 | Gross Alpha, Total Haloacetic Acids (HAA5) |
| Falmouth | 14,574 | 31 | 5 | TTHM, Total Haloacetic Acids (HAA5) |
| Flemingsburg | 14,276 | 14 | 1 | Gross Alpha |
| Paris | 14,139 | 41 | 18 | Contaminant 2920, E. coli, Total Haloacetic Acids (HAA5) |
| Middlesboro | 13,655 | 6 | 0 | |
| Coxs Creek | 13,365 | 9 | 3 | Total Haloacetic Acids (HAA5) |
| Springfield | 13,205 | 0 | 0 | |
| Catlettsburg | 13,044 | 46 | 29 | TTHM, Total Haloacetic Acids (HAA5) |
| Princeton | 13,007 | 15 | 8 | Total Haloacetic Acids (HAA5) |
| Mt Vernon | 12,623 | 13 | 1 | TTHM |
| Elkton | 12,581 | 10 | 0 | |
| Eubank | 12,492 | 16 | 9 | Total Haloacetic Acids (HAA5) |
| Greenup | 12,193 | 43 | 18 | TTHM, Total Haloacetic Acids (HAA5) |
| Knottsville | 11,997 | 6 | 3 | TTHM |
| Salyersville | 11,954 | 50 | 19 | E. coli, TTHM, Total Haloacetic Acids (HAA5) |
| Morganfield | 11,287 | 71 | 59 | Contaminant 2920, E. coli, Gross Alpha +2 more |
| Dawson Springs | 11,071 | 12 | 1 | E. coli |
| Salem | 10,812 | 21 | 2 | Contaminant 2920 |
| Russellville | 10,262 | 21 | 0 | |
| Salt Lick | 10,083 | 13 | 10 | Total Haloacetic Acids (HAA5) |
| Lagrange | 10,067 | 2 | 0 | |
| Jackson | 9,872 | 80 | 20 | E. coli, TTHM, Total Haloacetic Acids (HAA5) |
| West Liberty | 9,869 | 20 | 10 | E. coli, TTHM, Total Haloacetic Acids (HAA5) |
| Baxter | 9,783 | 216 | 2 | TTHM |
| Salvisa | 9,775 | 14 | 4 | E. coli, TTHM, Total Haloacetic Acids (HAA5) |
| Cave City | 9,705 | 43 | 9 | Stage 2 DBP, Total Haloacetic Acids (HAA5) |
| Vicco | 9,698 | 24 | 2 | Total Haloacetic Acids (HAA5) |
| Burkesville | 9,665 | 26 | 12 | E. coli, TTHM, Total Haloacetic Acids (HAA5) |
| Flatwoods | 9,649 | 22 | 12 | TTHM |
| Hyden | 9,614 | 4 | 1 | E. coli |
| Tompkinville | 9,608 | 14 | 5 | E. coli, Total Haloacetic Acids (HAA5) |
| Russell Springs | 9,409 | 34 | 9 | Total Haloacetic Acids (HAA5) |
| Clay City | 9,306 | 22 | 0 | |
| Stanford | 9,284 | 5 | 1 | Total Haloacetic Acids (HAA5) |
| Russellvile | 9,060 | 8 | 4 | TTHM |
| Albany | 9,042 | 62 | 24 | E. coli, TTHM, Total Haloacetic Acids (HAA5) |
| Inez | 9,003 | 73 | 49 | E. coli, TTHM, Total Haloacetic Acids (HAA5) |
| Oak Grove | 8,762 | 3 | 0 | |
| Edmonton | 8,515 | 13 | 8 | TTHM, Total Haloacetic Acids (HAA5) |
| Beattyville | 8,428 | 28 | 2 | TTHM, Total Haloacetic Acids (HAA5) |
| Harrodsburg | 8,310 | 4 | 0 | |
| Burgin | 8,281 | 44 | 5 | TTHM, Total Haloacetic Acids (HAA5) |
| Louisa | 8,236 | 7 | 0 | |
| Dry Ridge | 7,895 | 39 | 16 | E. coli, TTHM, Total Haloacetic Acids (HAA5) |
| Kuttawa | 7,887 | 39 | 20 | TTHM, Total Haloacetic Acids (HAA5) |
| Mt. Sterling | 7,621 | 23 | 13 | E. coli, Total Haloacetic Acids (HAA5) |
| Brooksville | 7,433 | 20 | 0 | |
| Jamestown | 7,402 | 17 | 7 | Total Haloacetic Acids (HAA5) |
| Dixon | 7,193 | 22 | 8 | Total Haloacetic Acids (HAA5) |
| Bremen | 7,075 | 3 | 0 | |
| Carrollton | 7,053 | 42 | 5 | Total Haloacetic Acids (HAA5) |
| Simpsonville | 6,994 | 18 | 8 | Total Haloacetic Acids (HAA5) |
| Vanceburg | 6,946 | 5 | 0 | |
| South Shore | 6,798 | 7 | 0 | |
| Vine Grove | 6,703 | 11 | 1 | E. coli |
| Stanton | 6,611 | 23 | 1 | Total Haloacetic Acids (HAA5) |
| Campton | 6,600 | 66 | 17 | TTHM, Total Haloacetic Acids (HAA5) |
| Bronston | 6,569 | 26 | 0 | |
| Brodhead | 6,564 | 14 | 0 | |
| Olive Hill | 6,192 | 27 | 9 | Contaminant 2920, Total Haloacetic Acids (HAA5) |
| Science Hill | 5,940 | 19 | 0 | |
| Ghent | 5,934 | 6 | 0 | |
| Sparta | 5,860 | 10 | 0 | |
| Bloomfield | 5,771 | 20 | 7 | E. coli, Total Haloacetic Acids (HAA5) |
| Wilmore | 5,762 | 9 | 5 | Total Haloacetic Acids (HAA5) |
| Central City | 5,601 | 4 | 0 | |
| Mckinney | 5,423 | 27 | 13 | Total Haloacetic Acids (HAA5) |
| Hustonville | 5,420 | 11 | 3 | Total Haloacetic Acids (HAA5) |
| Frenchburg | 5,401 | 14 | 10 | Total Haloacetic Acids (HAA5) |
| Beaver Dam | 5,386 | 20 | 5 | E. coli, TTHM, Total Haloacetic Acids (HAA5) |
| Booneville | 5,346 | 18 | 2 | Chlorine, TTHM |
| Jeffersonville | 5,335 | 26 | 0 | |
| Adairville | 5,198 | 10 | 4 | TTHM |
| Russell | 5,181 | 9 | 6 | TTHM, Total Haloacetic Acids (HAA5) |
| Brandenburg | 5,140 | 19 | 0 | |
| Livermore | 5,072 | 26 | 2 | E. coli, TTHM |
| Eddyville | 5,043 | 13 | 0 | |
| Cawood | 4,891 | 24 | 1 | Chlorine |
| Nebo | 4,702 | 18 | 18 | TTHM |
| Fulton | 4,662 | 4 | 2 | Chlorine Dioxide |
| Harlan | 4,574 | 2 | 1 | TTHM |
| Providence | 4,538 | 143 | 125 | TTHM, Total Haloacetic Acids (HAA5) |
| Mayslick | 4,514 | 19 | 1 | Total Haloacetic Acids (HAA5) |
| Calvert City | 4,381 | 7 | 0 | |
| Sharpsburg | 4,332 | 23 | 18 | TTHM, Total Haloacetic Acids (HAA5) |
| Ewing | 4,262 | 18 | 0 | |
| Parksville | 4,261 | 5 | 4 | Total Haloacetic Acids (HAA5) |
| Walton | 4,173 | 5 | 0 | |
| Bedford | 4,146 | 6 | 0 | |
| Calisle | 4,089 | 47 | 14 | TTHM, Total Haloacetic Acids (HAA5) |
| Grand Rivers | 3,980 | 6 | 0 | |
| Whitesburg | 3,861 | 11 | 3 | E. coli |
| Milton | 3,861 | 4 | 0 | |
| Madisonville | 3,725 | 26 | 15 | TTHM, Total Haloacetic Acids (HAA5) |
| Whitesville | 3,672 | 8 | 0 | |
| Sandy Hook | 3,528 | 8 | 0 | |
| Sturgis | 3,490 | 38 | 24 | TTHM |
| Frakfort | 3,268 | 20 | 0 | |
| Lewisport | 3,249 | 68 | 0 | |
| Hawesville | 3,225 | 4 | 0 | |
| Neon | 3,212 | 114 | 0 | |
| Raceland | 3,201 | 13 | 0 | |
| Hickman | 3,191 | 35 | 2 | Chlorine |
| Corinth | 3,139 | 22 | 11 | TTHM, Total Haloacetic Acids (HAA5) |
| Lewisburg | 3,119 | 53 | 26 | TTHM |
| Evarts | 3,059 | 24 | 6 | E. coli |
| Marion | 3,039 | 13 | 4 | TTHM |
| Dover | 2,994 | 10 | 0 | |
| Garrison | 2,908 | 5 | 0 | |
| Lebanon Junction | 2,866 | 10 | 0 | |
| Cumberland | 2,843 | 32 | 8 | E. coli, Total Haloacetic Acids (HAA5) |
| Ledbetter | 2,729 | 27 | 1 | Stage 2 DBP |
| Auburn | 2,718 | 12 | 3 | TTHM |
| Mayking | 2,673 | 14 | 6 | TTHM, Total Haloacetic Acids (HAA5) |
| Morgantown | 2,628 | 16 | 1 | Stage 2 DBP |
| Nortonville | 2,611 | 19 | 0 | |
| Jenkins | 2,609 | 43 | 27 | TTHM, Total Haloacetic Acids (HAA5) |
| Eminence | 2,554 | 3 | 1 | E. coli |
| Guthrie | 2,457 | 17 | 1 | Stage 2 DBP |
| Calhoun | 2,452 | 58 | 33 | TTHM, Total Haloacetic Acids (HAA5) |
| Sacramento | 2,435 | 12 | 3 | Total Haloacetic Acids (HAA5) |
| Tompkinsville | 2,404 | 28 | 15 | E. coli, Total Haloacetic Acids (HAA5) |
| Greensburg | 2,396 | 7 | 0 | |
| Lacenter | 2,331 | 47 | 1 | Gross Alpha |
| Owingsville | 2,307 | 12 | 2 | Total Haloacetic Acids (HAA5) |
| Burnside | 2,284 | 17 | 6 | Total Haloacetic Acids (HAA5) |
| Almo | 2,275 | 2 | 0 | |
| Midway | 2,174 | 34 | 0 | |
| Hanson | 2,157 | 47 | 40 | TTHM |
| Bonnieville | 2,109 | 8 | 0 | |
| New Castle | 2,100 | 3 | 0 | |
| Carlisle | 2,059 | 13 | 7 | E. coli, TTHM, Total Haloacetic Acids (HAA5) |
| Warsaw | 1,988 | 1 | 0 | |
| Hindman | 1,883 | 20 | 1 | Total Haloacetic Acids (HAA5) |
| White Plains | 1,871 | 12 | 1 | Chlorine Dioxide |
| Wurtland | 1,815 | 28 | 11 | TTHM |
| Symsonia | 1,810 | 4 | 0 | |
| Kevil | 1,782 | 194 | 0 | |
| Sebree | 1,743 | 19 | 1 | E. coli |
| Elkhorn City | 1,723 | 10 | 0 | |
| Earlington | 1,708 | 15 | 0 | |
| Augusta | 1,690 | 4 | 0 | |
| Worthington | 1,673 | 12 | 0 | |
| Irvington | 1,627 | 6 | 0 | |
| Hardin | 1,606 | 6 | 0 | |
| Cloverport | 1,560 | 20 | 1 | E. coli |
| Island | 1,512 | 5 | 0 | |
| Uniontown | 1,496 | 40 | 30 | TTHM, Total Haloacetic Acids (HAA5) |
| Crab Orchard | 1,488 | 31 | 7 | TTHM, Total Haloacetic Acids (HAA5) |
| Mortons Gap | 1,485 | 5 | 0 | |
| Fountain Run | 1,485 | 9 | 3 | Total Haloacetic Acids (HAA5) |
| Muldraugh | 1,411 | 3 | 0 | |
| Clay | 1,287 | 39 | 19 | Stage 2 DBP, TTHM, Total Haloacetic Acids (HAA5) |
| Wickliffe | 1,264 | 12 | 0 | |
| Bardwell | 1,227 | 8 | 0 | |
| Martin | 1,167 | 101 | 49 | TTHM, Total Haloacetic Acids (HAA5) |
| Hazel | 1,160 | 2 | 0 | |
| Lynch | 1,078 | 59 | 2 | E. coli, Stage 2 DBP |
| Fredonia | 1,040 | 9 | 0 | |
| Smithland | 989 | 87 | 46 | E. coli, TTHM |
| Butler | 980 | 33 | 0 | |
| Wingo | 965 | 7 | 0 | |
| Des Peres | 963 | 65 | 0 | |
| Trenton | 950 | 6 | 0 | |
| Fordsville | 927 | 15 | 6 | Total Haloacetic Acids (HAA5) |
| Drakesboro | 888 | 36 | 23 | Total Haloacetic Acids (HAA5) |
| Buckhorn | 875 | 46 | 11 | TTHM, Total Haloacetic Acids (HAA5) |
| Benham | 855 | 22 | 2 | Chlorine, E. coli |
| Wheelwright | 834 | 20 | 4 | E. coli |
| Arlington | 801 | 44 | 0 | |
| Mount Olivet | 775 | 29 | 6 | Total Haloacetic Acids (HAA5) |
| Slaughters | 659 | 14 | 2 | TTHM |
| Livingston | 529 | 77 | 0 | |
| Cunningham | 475 | 196 | 0 | |
| Garrett | 459 | 7 | 0 | |
| Columbus | 300 | 29 | 1 | Chlorine Dioxide |
Water Quality in Other States
Alabama 13,972 violations Alaska 73,527 violations Arizona 60,414 violations Arkansas 17,031 violations California 39,276 violations Colorado 42,596 violations Connecticut 28,800 violations Delaware 1,242 violations District of Columbia 115 violations Florida 36,335 violations Georgia 32,159 violations Hawaii 182 violations Idaho 26,078 violations Illinois 30,544 violations Indiana 18,261 violations Iowa 9,389 violations Kansas 19,480 violations Louisiana 32,039 violations Maine 6,830 violations Maryland 5,321 violations Massachusetts 10,561 violations Michigan 15,820 violations Minnesota 3,784 violations Mississippi 25,296 violations Missouri 25,377 violations Montana 20,202 violations Nebraska 5,134 violations Nevada 8,167 violations New Hampshire 6,968 violations New Jersey 19,332 violations New Mexico 37,115 violations New York 93,834 violations North Carolina 54,399 violations North Dakota 8,431 violations Ohio 61,604 violations Oklahoma 128,472 violations Oregon 0 violations Pennsylvania 199,265 violations Rhode Island 0 violations South Carolina 13,045 violations South Dakota 19,565 violations Tennessee 20,607 violations Texas 263,180 violations Utah 71,655 violations Vermont 12,362 violations Virginia 15,298 violations Washington 54,459 violations West Virginia 81,622 violations Wisconsin 18,533 violations Wyoming 13,783 violations
Data Sources
Drinking water data from the EPA Safe Drinking Water Information System (SDWIS). Only active community water systems (CWS) serving 100+ people are included.