01The verdict: is Lynch water safe?
Lynch's drinking water has significant quality concerns based on EPA testing data. With a grade of C- (58.2/100), the system has issues across multiple categories. A water filter is recommended for all residents. The city's 1 water system serves approximately 1,078 residents using surface water (rivers, lakes, or reservoirs).
Chlorate is over its legal limit
Measured at 320.0 µg/L against the EPA Lifetime HA of 210 µg/L. The ledger below shows how far over — and which filter removes it.
See the measurement ↓Lead is well under the limit
90th-percentile lead is 2.0 ppb — beneath the 15 ppb federal action level and under the 5 ppb watch threshold.
See the trend ↓15 violations in the last five years
Recent compliance history is the best predictor of future problems — the year-by-year record is below.
See the record ↓Lynch's drinking water received a grade of C- (58.2 out of 100), indicating poor water quality. The city's 1 water system serves approximately 1,078 residents using surface water.
Lead levels were measured at 2.0 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 91 violations on record, including 11 health-based violations. 29 remain unresolved.
Lynch ranks #227 out of 246 cities in Kentucky for water quality, placing it among the lowest-rated 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. Hexavalent chromium (chromium-6) was detected at 0.06 µg/L in UCMR 3 testing. While below California's 10 µg/L limit and with no federal MCL set, residents sensitive to this contaminant may consider reverse osmosis filtration. As a small community water system, Lynch may have fewer resources for advanced treatment technologies and infrastructure upgrades compared to larger utilities. The system has seen 15 violations in the past five years, suggesting a pattern of compliance challenges that residents should monitor closely.
02What's in Lynch's water
Every contaminant flagged in Lynch, 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. | 2.0 | 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
03Lynch'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 91 violations on record, including 11 health-based violations. 29 remain unresolved.
5 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 8 ppb since 1993. Latest reading: 2 ppb (2023) — 13% of the action level. Sampled at higher-risk homes (90th percentile).
04Where Lynch's water comes from
Lynch's drinking water comes primarily from surface water sources such as rivers, lakes, or reservoirs.
Surface Water
Rivers, lakes, or reservoirs — more exposed to runoff, agriculture, and seasonal swings than groundwater.
Local treatment
Multi-barrier treatment: coagulation, sedimentation, filtration, and disinfection to meet EPA standards.
1 system
1 water system, operated under local government ownership.
1,078 people
Residents served across Lynch'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 1,078 people through 1 water system.
| System name | PWSID | Population | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| LYNCH WATER WORKS | KY0480262 | 1,078 | Surface Water |
Water bodies near Lynch
As a surface-water system, these water bodies may directly influence Lynch's drinking water supply.
05Pressure on Lynch'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 Harlan County. Flooding and severe storms can overwhelm treatment plants, cause sewage overflows, and push runoff into supplies.
Drought
Harlan 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 Lynch compares
Scores for nearby Kentucky cities on one line, with the average marked.
dashed line = Kentucky average (80/100)
Lynch scores 58.2/100 — below the Kentucky average of 80/100. 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 Lynch's water — not generic advice.
A basic carbon filter still helps
Lynch'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 Lynch 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 Lynch, KY tap water safe to drink?
Lynch's water quality earned a grade of C- (58.2/100). Significant issues have been found. A water filter is strongly recommended. The city ranks #227 out of 246 cities tested in Kentucky.
What contaminants are in Lynch's water?
Lead was measured at 2.0 ppb (90th percentile). 91 violations are on record.
How is Lynch'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 Lynch?
Based on current data, basic filtration should suffice for additional peace of mind.
Where does Lynch's water come from?
Lynch's water is sourced from Surface water. The city has 1 water system serving approximately 1,078 residents.
What health violations has Lynch's water system had?
Lynch has 11 health-based violations on record. The most recent violation was recorded in November 2025. Health-based violations mean the water exceeded EPA maximum contaminant levels (MCLs) for a regulated substance. 29 violations remain unresolved.
How does Lynch's water compare to other cities?
Lynch ranks #227 out of 246 cities in Kentucky (better than 8% of state cities) and #12092 out of 15382 cities nationally (21th percentile). The grade of C- reflects the combined assessment of violation history, lead and copper levels, PFAS contamination, and regulatory compliance.
Does Lynch's small water system affect quality?
Lynch's system serves approximately 1,078 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 91 violations on record.