Nitrate Contamination

Nitrate in Kentucky Drinking Water

Ranked by nitrate violation count · Data from EPA SDWIS & UCMR

155

Cities Tested

155

Has Violations

100%

% Has Violations

2.8 violations

State Avg

▼ 0% vs national

vs National

222

Health Violations

Analysis

Nitrate in Kentucky: what the data shows

Kentucky has 155 cities with nitrate-related violations. The EPA MCL for nitrate is 10 mg/L (measured as nitrogen). The state has 155 cities with at least one nitrate violation. Nitrate is the most common groundwater contaminant in the United States. It enters water supplies primarily through agricultural fertilizer runoff, septic system leaching, and animal feedlot operations. Rural and agricultural communities face the highest risk. The primary acute health concern is methemoglobinemia ("blue baby syndrome") in infants under six months. Emerging research also links chronic nitrate exposure to thyroid disease, certain cancers, and adverse birth outcomes. Reverse osmosis, ion exchange, and distillation can remove nitrate from drinking water — standard carbon filters do not.

Comparison

Cities exceeding 10 mg/L EPA MCL

Kentucky

100%

155 of 155 cities

← = Exactly at national rate

National avg

100%

8001 of 8001 cities

City Map

Nitrate data across Kentucky

Each dot is a city with nitrate violation data. Cities with at least one nitrate-related violation are highlighted. Size reflects population served.

Worst Offenders

Top 10 cities by nitrate level in Kentucky

Highest Nitrate levels (violations)

All Cities

All Kentucky cities ranked by nitrate level

#	City	Level	Violations?	Violations	Grade
1	Baxter	16 violations	Yes	16	F
2	Mayfield	12 violations	Yes	3	C-
3	Scottsville	12 violations	Yes	5	B+
4	Bowling Green	11 violations	Yes	16	B
5	Russell Springs	9 violations	Yes	10	B+
6	Dover	9 violations	Yes	0	A-
7	Burlington	7 violations	Yes	6	B
8	Radcliff	7 violations	Yes	1	A-
9	Glasgow	7 violations	Yes	3	A
10	Murray	7 violations	Yes	1	C-
11	Benton	6 violations	Yes	14	C+
12	Burkesville	6 violations	Yes	40	B-
13	Beattyville	6 violations	Yes	21	C
14	Lancaster	5 violations	Yes	13	B+
15	Elkton	5 violations	Yes	8	A-
16	Milton	5 violations	Yes	6	F
17	Dixon	5 violations	Yes	29	B-
18	Brodhead	5 violations	Yes	4	A-
19	Milton	5 violations	Yes	6	D
20	Sturgis	5 violations	Yes	48	C-
21	Lewisburg	5 violations	Yes	14	C-
22	Jenkins	5 violations	Yes	25	B-
23	Trenton	5 violations	Yes	4	A
24	London	4 violations	Yes	19	B-
25	Ashland	4 violations	Yes	37	C+
26	Henderson	4 violations	Yes	7	B
27	Leitchfield	4 violations	Yes	9	A-
28	Hazard	4 violations	Yes	21	B-
29	Prestonsburg	4 violations	Yes	11	A-
30	Grayson	4 violations	Yes	26	B-
31	Cadiz	4 violations	Yes	4	B+
32	Liberty	4 violations	Yes	32	C+
33	Salyersville	4 violations	Yes	46	B-
34	Clay City	4 violations	Yes	4	B+
35	Harrodsburg	4 violations	Yes	8	A-
36	Stanton	4 violations	Yes	6	B+
37	Bronston	4 violations	Yes	10	B+
38	Wilmore	4 violations	Yes	8	B+
39	Brandenburg	4 violations	Yes	2	B+
40	Neon	4 violations	Yes	3	D
41	Ft. Thomas	3 violations	Yes	0	A-
42	Somerset	3 violations	Yes	4	B+
43	Paducah	3 violations	Yes	4	A-
44	Hopkinsville	3 violations	Yes	15	A-
45	Ft. Campbell	3 violations	Yes	0	C+
46	Sedalia	3 violations	Yes	5	B
47	Barbourville	3 violations	Yes	10	C+
48	Taylorsville	3 violations	Yes	1	A-
49	Versailles	3 violations	Yes	7	B+
50	Campbellsburg	3 violations	Yes	5	A-
51	Flemingsburg	3 violations	Yes	13	B+
52	Oak Grove	3 violations	Yes	2	A
53	Ghent	3 violations	Yes	1	A-
54	Lewisport	3 violations	Yes	0	A-
55	Evarts	3 violations	Yes	8	B
56	Ledbetter	3 violations	Yes	1	C+
57	Morgantown	3 violations	Yes	6	B+
58	Island	3 violations	Yes	4	A-
59	Smithland	3 violations	Yes	17	C-
60	Fordsville	3 violations	Yes	8	B
61	Louisville	2 violations	Yes	7	B+
62	Frankfort	2 violations	Yes	7	C+
63	Pikeville	2 violations	Yes	79	D
64	Campbellsville	2 violations	Yes	25	B
65	Georgetown	2 violations	Yes	3	B+
66	Morehead	2 violations	Yes	45	C+
67	Cynthiana	2 violations	Yes	29	C+
68	Lebanon	2 violations	Yes	11	A-
69	Crittenden	2 violations	Yes	9	A-
70	Hartford	2 violations	Yes	77	C
71	Hardinsburg	2 violations	Yes	29	A-
72	Brownsville	2 violations	Yes	26	D+
73	Maysville	2 violations	Yes	8	B-
74	Pineville	2 violations	Yes	14	C+
75	Manchester	2 violations	Yes	16	C
76	Williamsburg	2 violations	Yes	27	C+
77	Hodgenville	2 violations	Yes	61	C
78	Falmouth	2 violations	Yes	19	C+
79	Paris	2 violations	Yes	39	C+
80	Springfield	2 violations	Yes	6	A
81	Middlesboro	2 violations	Yes	1	A-
82	Greenup	2 violations	Yes	54	B-
83	Morganfield	2 violations	Yes	47	F
84	Russellville	2 violations	Yes	11	B+
85	Jackson	2 violations	Yes	19	C
86	Inez	2 violations	Yes	48	B-
87	Louisa	2 violations	Yes	7	A
88	Kuttawa	2 violations	Yes	32	C-
89	Jamestown	2 violations	Yes	23	B
90	Vanceburg	2 violations	Yes	1	A
91	Livermore	2 violations	Yes	31	B
92	Eddyville	2 violations	Yes	9	A-
93	Marion	2 violations	Yes	34	B+
94	Cumberland	2 violations	Yes	9	B+
95	Guthrie	2 violations	Yes	2	B+
96	Calhoun	2 violations	Yes	21	C
97	Lacenter	2 violations	Yes	3	B-
98	Burnside	2 violations	Yes	9	A-
99	Warsaw	2 violations	Yes	1	A
100	Kevil	2 violations	Yes	2	B
101	Earlington	2 violations	Yes	18	A-
102	Irvington	2 violations	Yes	25	A-
103	Wickliffe	2 violations	Yes	0	B
104	Butler	2 violations	Yes	4	B+
105	Lexington	1 violations	Yes	31	B
106	Owensboro	1 violations	Yes	5	A-
107	Nicholasville	1 violations	Yes	38	C-
108	Bradenburg	1 violations	Yes	2	A-
109	Danville	1 violations	Yes	10	A-
110	Bardstown	1 violations	Yes	13	B+
111	Mt Sterling	1 violations	Yes	118	D
112	Corbin	1 violations	Yes	9	B
113	Paintsville	1 violations	Yes	10	A-
114	Lawrenceburg	1 violations	Yes	19	B
115	Greenville	1 violations	Yes	17	C+
116	Monticello	1 violations	Yes	7	A-
117	Horse Cave	1 violations	Yes	3	A-
118	Franklin	1 violations	Yes	2	A-
119	Mcdoqwell	1 violations	Yes	26	C+
120	Mckee	1 violations	Yes	60	B-
121	Princeton	1 violations	Yes	15	B+
122	Salem	1 violations	Yes	10	B+
123	West Liberty	1 violations	Yes	21	B-
124	Hyden	1 violations	Yes	2	A-
125	Tompkinville, Ky	1 violations	Yes	4	B+
126	Albany	1 violations	Yes	21	B-
127	Campton	1 violations	Yes	42	C+
128	Olive Hill	1 violations	Yes	16	B+
129	Central City	1 violations	Yes	7	A
130	Booneville	1 violations	Yes	21	B+
131	Russell	1 violations	Yes	18	A-
132	Cawood	1 violations	Yes	8	B+
133	Fulton	1 violations	Yes	1	A-
134	Harlan	1 violations	Yes	2	A
135	Providence	1 violations	Yes	53	D
136	Calvert City	1 violations	Yes	1	A-
137	Grand Rivers	1 violations	Yes	2	A-
138	Whitesburg	1 violations	Yes	32	B+
139	Raceland	1 violations	Yes	0	A-
140	Garrison	1 violations	Yes	0	A
141	Dawson Springs	1 violations	Yes	27	A
142	Nortonville	1 violations	Yes	1	A-
143	Tompkinsville	1 violations	Yes	19	B-
144	Owingsville	1 violations	Yes	5	A-
145	Carlisle	1 violations	Yes	38	B
146	Hindman	1 violations	Yes	2	B+
147	White Plains	1 violations	Yes	2	A
148	Symsonia	1 violations	Yes	1	A-
149	Elkhorn City	1 violations	Yes	9	A-
150	Augusta	1 violations	Yes	0	A
151	Lynch	1 violations	Yes	11	C-
152	Wingo	1 violations	Yes	1	A-
153	Benham	1 violations	Yes	6	B
154	Wheelwright	1 violations	Yes	5	A-
155	Livingston	1 violations	Yes	0	D

FAQ

Frequently asked questions about nitrate in Kentucky

Is nitrate in Kentucky tap water dangerous?

Yes — 155 cities in Kentucky have nitrate-related violations. The EPA MCL is 10 mg/L. Nitrate is especially dangerous for infants under six months, where it can cause methemoglobinemia ("blue baby syndrome"). Adults face lower acute risk, but chronic exposure is linked to thyroid disease and certain cancers.

How can I remove nitrate from my drinking water?

Reverse osmosis, ion exchange, and distillation are effective at removing nitrate. Standard carbon filters (including most pitcher and faucet-mount filters) do NOT remove nitrate. If you rely on a private well in an agricultural area, have your water tested annually for nitrate.

What causes high nitrate levels in Kentucky water?

Nitrate contamination comes primarily from agricultural fertilizer runoff, septic system leaching, and animal feedlot operations. Rural communities near intensive farming are most at risk. Shallow wells are particularly vulnerable. Heavy rainfall can spike nitrate levels as it washes fertilizer into groundwater and surface water supplies.

More contaminants