WaterVerge

Is Irvington, KY Tap Water Safe to Drink?

Graded A-, with 7 unresolved violations on record. See what was cited — and what it means for your tap. What to do next ↓

2K residents served 1 water system PWSID: KY0140206
Overall Score
89.2 / 100
Violations
7 active
Last Updated
May 2026
Source
Purchased ground water
#38 of 246 in Kentucky Top 19% nationally
Local Government
Moderate data confidence
Reviewed by WaterVerge Editorial Team · Last updated May 2026
A-GRADE
Water Quality Grade
89.2/100
waterverge.com
A- 89.2/100

Irvington, KY — Water Quality Report

Irvington's drinking water received a grade of A- (89.2 out of 100), indicating good water quality. The city's 1 water system serves approximately 1,627 residents using purchased ground 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 56 violations on record, including 25 health-based violations. 7 remain unresolved.

Data last updated: May 2026 · Source: EPA SDWIS, UCMR 5
Analysis

What to know about Irvington's water

Irvington ranks #38 out of 246 cities in Kentucky for water quality, placing it above average in the state.

Irvington purchases its water from a regional wholesaler, meaning quality depends on both the supplier's treatment and the local distribution system's condition.

As a small community water system, Irvington may have fewer resources for advanced treatment technologies and infrastructure upgrades compared to larger utilities.

Quality Breakdown

Water quality score

See methodology →
89.2 out of 100 Grade A-
A: 90-100
B: 74-89
C: 60-73
F: <50
How is this calculated?
Violations
39.2/45
B
Historical violation record including health-based and monitoring violations.
Lead & Copper
20/20
A
Lead at 0.0 ppb (90th percentile).
Contaminants
17/20
B
PFAS + legacy contaminant analysis.
Compliance
8/10
B
Monitoring and reporting compliance with EPA regulations.
Source Risk
5/5
A
Water source: Purchased ground water.
Water Safety

Is Irvington, KY water safe to drink?

Concerns Identified

Irvington's drinking water has significant quality concerns based on EPA testing data. With a grade of A- (89.2/100), the system has issues across multiple categories. A water filter is recommended for all residents. The city's 1 water system serves approximately 1,627 residents using groundwater (wells).

7
Active Violations
0.0 ppb
Lead (90th %ile)
1 event
Disaster History

Recent water quality updates for Irvington

A timeline of significant water quality events, violations, and data updates.

Update
Water quality data updated

Latest EPA compliance and testing data incorporated into Irvington's water quality assessment. Grade: A- (89.2/100).

Violation
1 drinking water violation recorded

Contaminants: Public Notice.

Violation
1 drinking water violation recorded

Contaminants: Consumer Confidence Rule.

Violation
1 drinking water violation recorded

Contaminants: Consumer Confidence Rule.

Disaster
HURRICANE KATRINA

Federal disaster declaration (FEMA DR-3231). Hurricane event — may have impacted local water infrastructure.

Key contaminant findings

Based on the most recent EPA sampling data for Irvington's water supply.

Lead Within Limits
Detected: 0.0 ppb Limit: 15 ppb (EPA Action Level)

Well within EPA limits.

Violation history

Irvington's water system has 56 total violations on record, including 25 health-based violations. 7 remain unresolved.

OtherMRMCL
Most recent violations:
Nov 2015 Public Notice Open
Jul 2015 Consumer Confidence Rule Open
Oct 2014 Consumer Confidence Rule Open
Jul 2014 Coliform (TCR) Resolved
Jul 2013 Consumer Confidence Rule Open

Flood & environmental risk

Breckinridge County has experienced 1 federally declared disaster since 2005. Flooding and severe storms can overwhelm water treatment plants, cause sewage overflows, and introduce agricultural runoff, bacteria, and sediment into drinking water supplies.

HURRICANE KATRINA
Hurricane FEMA DR-3231

Where does Irvington's water come from?

Irvington's drinking water comes from groundwater (wells), supplied by 1 water system serving approximately 1,627 people. Groundwater is generally less susceptible to surface contamination but can contain naturally occurring contaminants like arsenic, radon, and nitrate.

What Irvington residents can do

Install a water filter

Recommended: NSF-certified water filter. This addresses the specific contaminants found in Irvington's water.

Request your utility's CCR

Your water utility is required to publish an annual Consumer Confidence Report (CCR) with detailed testing results. Ask for the latest copy or check your utility's website.

Data: EPA SDWIS, UCMR 5 (PFAS), FEMA, NOAA. Last updated May 2026.

Contaminant Alerts

Top contaminants to know

View all ↓
Lead (90th percentile)
Inorganic / Heavy Metal
Safe
0.0 ppb
EPA Action Level: 15 ppb · 0% of limit
Safe Level
Compliance Record

Violation summary

56
Total violations
25
Health-based
7
Active / unresolved
Nov 2015
Most recent violation
Compliance Record

Violations & advisories

56 Total
7 Active
25 Health-based
49 Resolved
Violations by category
Former Total Trihalomethane Rule
23
Inorganic Chemicals
14
Synthetic Organic Chemicals
6
Consumer Confidence Rule
5
Total Coliform Rule
2
Nov 2015 Active
Public Notice
Other Violation 0
Jul 2015 Active
Consumer Confidence Rule
Other Violation 0
Oct 2014 Active
Consumer Confidence Rule
Other Violation 0
Jul 2013 Active
Consumer Confidence Rule
Other Violation 0
Oct 2005 Active
Consumer Confidence Rule
Other Violation 0
Jul 2003 Active
Consumer Confidence Rule
Other Violation 0
Active
Compliance Violation
Monitoring 0
Jul 2014 Resolved
Coliform (TCR)
Monitoring & Reporting
Monitoring & Reporting Resolved Jul 2014
Jan 2001 Resolved
TTHM
Max Contaminant Level
Health-Based Health Resolved Dec 2001
Oct 2000 Resolved
TTHM
Max Contaminant Level
Health-Based Health Resolved Sep 2001
Jul 2000 Resolved
TTHM
Max Contaminant Level
Health-Based Health Resolved Jun 2001
Jan 2000 Resolved
TTHM
Max Contaminant Level
Health-Based Health Resolved Dec 2000
Oct 1999 Resolved
TTHM
Max Contaminant Level
Health-Based Health Resolved Sep 2000
Jul 1999 Resolved
TTHM
Max Contaminant Level
Health-Based Health Resolved Jun 2000
Apr 1999 Resolved
TTHM
Max Contaminant Level
Health-Based Health Resolved Mar 2000
Jan 1999 Resolved
TTHM
Max Contaminant Level
Health-Based Health Resolved Dec 1999
Oct 1998 Resolved
TTHM
Max Contaminant Level
Health-Based Health Resolved Sep 1999
Jul 1998 Resolved
TTHM
Max Contaminant Level
Health-Based Health Resolved Jun 1999
Apr 1998 Resolved
TTHM
Max Contaminant Level
Health-Based Health Resolved Mar 1999
Jan 1998 Resolved
TTHM
Max Contaminant Level
Health-Based Health Resolved Dec 1998
Showing 20 of 56 violations
Environmental Risk

Drought conditions

D2 — severe drought

Breckinridge County is currently in D2 (severe drought) per the U.S. Drought Monitor (week of May 5, 2026). Drought can elevate disinfection-byproduct (TTHM/HAA5) levels and taste/odor issues as utilities draw from lower reservoirs.

3
Weeks at D2+ (current streak)
5.3%
Months in D2+ (last 30y)
3
Weeks at D2+ (last 5y)

Source: U.S. Drought Monitor, updated weekly by NDMC, USDA, and NOAA.

Environmental Risk

Flood & disaster history

1
Declared disasters
Sep 2005
Most recent
Hurricane
Most common type

Breckinridge County has experienced 1 federally declared disaster since 2005. Flooding and severe weather can compromise water treatment infrastructure and introduce contaminants into drinking water supplies.

Sep 2005
HURRICANE KATRINA
Hurricane FEMA #3231

Full contaminants report

Contaminant Detected Level EPA Limit Unit Category Status
Lead (90th percentile) 0.0 15 ppb Inorganic Safe
Data source: EPA SDWIS, UCMR 5, local utility CCR.

Lead level trend (90th percentile)

EPA action level: 15 ppb
Lead has decreased by 3.7 ppb from 1994 (3.7 ppb) to 2023 (0.0 ppb).
Infrastructure

Water source & infrastructure

Primary Source
Purchased Groundwater
Operator
Local Government
Population Served
1,627
Water Systems
1
Water Source

Where Irvington's water comes from

Purchased Groundwater

Irvington purchases its water supply from a regional wholesale provider rather than treating raw water directly.

Water quality depends on both the wholesaler's treatment standards and the condition of Irvington's local distribution pipes and storage facilities.

Purchased water systems are common in suburban areas and smaller communities that lack the infrastructure for independent treatment.

The system is operated by local government ownership and serves approximately 1,627 people through 1 water system.

Infrastructure

Water systems serving Irvington

System Name PWSID Population Source
IRVINGTON WATER SYSTEM KY0140206 1,627 GWP
Regional Comparison

How Irvington compares

Full Kentucky rankings →

Irvington's score of 89.2/100 is above the average of 80/100 among major Kentucky cities. It outscores 10 of 10 nearby cities.

Irvington (this city)
89.2
Louisville
82.2
Ft. Thomas
86.8
Owensboro
85.1
Kentucky avg
80
City Profile

About Irvington, KY

Economic Profile
$48,714
Median Income
$114,657
Median Home Value
$763/mo
Median Rent
11.4%
Unemployment
Community
38.5
Median Age
552
People / sq mi
4.3%
College Educated
63.3%
Homeownership
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Frequently asked questions

Is Irvington, KY tap water safe to drink?

Irvington's water quality earned a grade of A- (89.2/100). The water generally meets EPA standards and is considered safe for consumption. The city ranks #38 out of 246 cities tested in Kentucky.

What contaminants are in Irvington's water?

Lead was measured at 0.0 ppb (90th percentile). 56 violations are on record.

How is Irvington'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 Irvington?

Based on current data, basic filtration should suffice for additional peace of mind.

Where does Irvington's water come from?

Irvington's water is sourced from Purchased ground water. The city has 1 water system serving approximately 1,627 residents.

What health violations has Irvington's water system had?

Irvington has 25 health-based violations on record. The most recent violation was recorded in November 2015. Health-based violations mean the water exceeded EPA maximum contaminant levels (MCLs) for a regulated substance. 7 violations remain unresolved.

Is Irvington's groundwater at risk of contamination?

Irvington uses groundwater, which can be affected by naturally occurring contaminants like arsenic, radon, and nitrate, as well as agricultural runoff and industrial activity. The system has 56 violations on record that may relate to groundwater quality. Groundwater systems are generally less susceptible to surface contamination but should be monitored for emerging contaminants like PFAS.

How does Irvington's water compare to other cities?

Irvington ranks #38 out of 246 cities in Kentucky (better than 85% of state cities) and #2978 out of 15744 cities nationally (81th percentile). The grade of A- reflects the combined assessment of violation history, lead and copper levels, PFAS contamination, and regulatory compliance.

Does Irvington's small water system affect quality?

Irvington's system serves approximately 1,627 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 56 violations on record.