01The verdict: is Elkhorn City water safe?
Elkhorn City's drinking water has significant quality concerns based on EPA testing data. With a grade of A- (85.9/100), the system has issues across multiple categories. A water filter is recommended for all residents. The city's 1 water system serves approximately 1,723 residents using surface water (rivers, lakes, or reservoirs).
11 unresolved violations on record
EPA records show open compliance items for this system. Most are administrative, but unresolved items are worth watching.
See what was cited ↓Lead is well under the limit
90th-percentile lead is 0.0 ppb — beneath the 15 ppb federal action level and under the 5 ppb watch threshold.
See the trend ↓A flood-prone service area
10 federal disaster declarations on record. After severe weather, watch for boil-water advisories.
See the risk factors ↓Elkhorn City's drinking water received a grade of A- (85.9 out of 100), indicating good water quality. The city's 1 water system serves approximately 1,723 residents using purchased surface water.
Lead levels were measured at 0.0 ppb (90th percentile), well within EPA limits. This system has not yet been tested for PFAS under the EPA UCMR 5 program. The system has 25 violations on record, including 9 health-based violations. 11 remain unresolved.
Elkhorn City ranks #84 out of 246 cities in Kentucky for water quality, placing it mid-range in the state. The city draws from surface water sources, which are more susceptible to seasonal runoff and agricultural contamination, requiring extensive multi-barrier treatment including coagulation, filtration, and disinfection. As a small community water system, Elkhorn City may have fewer resources for advanced treatment technologies and infrastructure upgrades compared to larger utilities.
02What's in Elkhorn City's water
Every contaminant flagged in Elkhorn City, on one shared scale: distance to its own legal limit. The red line is the limit — anything past it is out of compliance, and the closer a bar gets, the less headroom the system has.
Full contaminants report
| Contaminant | Detected Level | EPA Limit | Unit | Category | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lead (90th percentile) LeadHeavy Metal A toxic heavy metal that can leach into drinking water from older pipes, solder, and fixtures. No amount of lead in water is considered safe. Health EffectsBrain and nervous system damage in children, kidney damage, high blood pressure, and reproductive problems in adults. EPA Limit15 ppb action level Common SourcesCorrosion of lead pipes, lead solder, brass faucets, and household plumbing. | 0.0 | 15 | ppb | Inorganic | Safe |
Cities ranked by 90th-percentile lead PF PFAS in Kentucky
Cities ranked by compounds detected Cu Copper in Kentucky
Cities ranked by 90th-percentile copper
03Elkhorn City's ten-year track record
Each box is one year. A green check means no EPA violations; a numbered badge counts that year's violations — red if any were health-based, amber if they were monitoring or paperwork issues. The system has 25 violations on record, including 9 health-based violations. 11 remain unresolved.
9 of the last ten years were clean. The numbered years had EPA violations — red when any were health-based, amber when they were paperwork or missed-testing issues.
▼ Down 7 ppb since 1993. Latest reading: 0 ppb (2023) — 0% of the action level. Sampled at higher-risk homes (90th percentile).
04Where Elkhorn City's water comes from
Elkhorn City's drinking water comes primarily from surface water sources such as rivers, lakes, or reservoirs.
Purchased Surface Water
Rivers, lakes, or reservoirs — more exposed to runoff, agriculture, and seasonal swings than groundwater.
Wholesale supplier
Multi-barrier treatment: coagulation, sedimentation, filtration, and disinfection to meet EPA standards.
1 system
1 water system, operated under local government ownership.
1,723 people
Residents served across Elkhorn City's service area.
Surface water systems require multi-stage treatment including coagulation, sedimentation, filtration, and disinfection to meet EPA Safe Drinking Water Act standards. These sources can be impacted by seasonal changes, stormwater runoff, upstream agriculture, and industrial discharge. The system is operated by local government ownership and serves approximately 1,723 people through 1 water system.
| System name | PWSID | Population | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| ELKHORN CITY WATER DEPT | KY0980120 | 1,723 | Purchased Surface Water |
Water bodies near Elkhorn City
As a surface-water system, these water bodies may directly influence Elkhorn City's drinking water supply.
05Pressure on Elkhorn City's watershed
Outside forces that shape what reaches the treatment plant. None of these is a verdict on the tap by itself — but each adds pressure worth knowing about.
Flood & storm history
10 federal disaster declarations on record for Pike County. Flooding and severe storms can overwhelm treatment plants, cause sewage overflows, and push runoff into supplies.
Drought
Pike County is in D2 (severe drought) per the U.S. Drought Monitor (week of Jul 2026). Drought can raise disinfection-byproduct levels and taste/odor issues as utilities draw from lower reservoirs.
06How Elkhorn City compares
Scores for nearby Kentucky cities on one line, with the average marked.
dashed line = Kentucky average (80/100)
Elkhorn City scores 85.9/100 — above the Kentucky average of 80/100. It outscores 9 of 10 nearby cities. Full Kentucky rankings →
82.2 / 100BLexington, KY
79 / 100AFt. Thomas, KY
86.8 / 100BBowling Green, KY
75.5 / 100AOwensboro, KY
85.1 / 100BElizabethtown, KY
81.2 / 100
Compare all cities in the county — grades, violations, and contaminant data side by side.→
07What to do at home
Steps matched to what testing actually found in Elkhorn City's water — not generic advice.
A basic carbon filter still helps
Elkhorn City's water meets federal standards, but a simple carbon filter improves taste and adds a margin of safety against short-term issues.
Compare tested filters →Read your utility's annual report
Every utility must publish a yearly Consumer Confidence Report with its own testing results. It pairs well with the independent data on this page.
How to read a CCR →Watch for Elkhorn City alerts
This area has a history of flood declarations — after severe weather, watch for boil-water advisories from the utility, and check the live alerts on this page.
All water alerts →Frequently asked questions
Is Elkhorn City, KY tap water safe to drink?
Elkhorn City's water quality earned a grade of A- (85.9/100). The water generally meets EPA standards and is considered safe for consumption. The city ranks #84 out of 246 cities tested in Kentucky.
What contaminants are in Elkhorn City's water?
Lead was measured at 0.0 ppb (90th percentile). 25 violations are on record.
How is Elkhorn City's water quality grade calculated?
The grade is based on four factors: violation history (40%), lead and copper levels (25%), PFAS contamination (25%), and regulatory compliance (10%). The score is also adjusted based on how complete the available data is. See our methodology page for full details.
Do I need a water filter in Elkhorn City?
Based on current data, basic filtration should suffice for additional peace of mind.
Where does Elkhorn City's water come from?
Elkhorn City's water is sourced from Purchased surface water. The city has 1 water system serving approximately 1,723 residents.
What health violations has Elkhorn City's water system had?
Elkhorn City has 9 health-based violations on record. The most recent violation was recorded in January 2018. Health-based violations mean the water exceeded EPA maximum contaminant levels (MCLs) for a regulated substance. 11 violations remain unresolved.
How does Elkhorn City's water compare to other cities?
Elkhorn City ranks #84 out of 246 cities in Kentucky (better than 66% of state cities) and #4999 out of 15382 cities nationally (68th percentile). The grade of A- reflects the combined assessment of violation history, lead and copper levels, PFAS contamination, and regulatory compliance.
Does Elkhorn City's small water system affect quality?
Elkhorn City's system serves approximately 1,723 residents. Small community water systems (under 3,300 people) may have fewer financial resources for infrastructure upgrades and advanced treatment technologies. However, they are held to the same EPA drinking water standards as larger systems. This system has 25 violations on record.