PFAS Contamination

PFAS in Kentucky Drinking Water

Ranked by number of PFAS compounds detected · Data from EPA SDWIS & UCMR

177

Cities Tested

Exceeds Limit

16%

% Exceeds Limit

1.2 compounds

State Avg

▼ 5% vs national

vs National

222

Health Violations

Analysis

PFAS in Kentucky: what the data shows

Kentucky has 177 cities with PFAS monitoring data from the EPA's UCMR 5 program. PFAS ("forever chemicals") were detected in 90 of those cities (51%), with a significant share of cities exceeding the EPA's 2024 maximum contaminant levels of 4 ppt. The state average is better than the national average. 29 cities exceed the EPA MCL for at least one PFAS compound. PFAS are linked to cancer, immune system disruption, and developmental issues. The 2024 EPA rule requires water systems exceeding the MCL to notify customers and reduce levels by 2029. PFAS data comes from the EPA's Unregulated Contaminant Monitoring Rule 5 (UCMR 5), which required large water systems to test for 29 PFAS compounds between 2023–2025. Not all systems have completed testing — cities without data may still have PFAS present.

Comparison

Cities exceeding EPA MCL (4 ppt each)

Kentucky

16%

29 of 177 cities

← ▼ 5% below national rate (better)

National avg

21%

1636 of 7745 cities

City Map

PFAS data across Kentucky

Each dot is a city, colored by overall water quality grade. PFAS-tested cities are shown; those exceeding the 4 ppt EPA MCL appear in red. Size reflects population served.

Worst Offenders

Top 10 cities by pfas level in Kentucky

Highest PFAS levels (compounds)

All Cities

All Kentucky cities ranked by pfas level

#	City	Level	Exceeds?	Violations	Grade
1	Georgetown	8 compounds	Yes	3	B+
2	Falmouth	8 compounds	Yes	19	C+
3	Elizabethtown	7 compounds	Yes	3	B+
4	Ft. Campbell	7 compounds	Yes	0	C+
5	Cynthiana	7 compounds	Yes	29	C+
6	Lexington	6 compounds	No	31	B
7	Corbin	6 compounds	Yes	9	B
8	Williamsburg	6 compounds	Yes	27	C+
9	Beattyville	6 compounds	Yes	21	C
10	Paducah	5 compounds	Yes	4	A-
11	Mayslick	5 compounds	Yes	2	B
12	Louisville	4 compounds	Yes	7	B+
13	Frankfort	4 compounds	No	7	C+
14	Ashland	4 compounds	Yes	37	C+
15	Cadiz	4 compounds	No	4	B+
16	Paris	4 compounds	No	39	C+
17	Coxs Creek	4 compounds	Yes	7	B+
18	Catlettsburg	4 compounds	Yes	24	C-
19	Morganfield	4 compounds	Yes	47	F
20	Parksville	4 compounds	No	4	A-
21	Sturgis	4 compounds	Yes	48	C-
22	Hopkinsville	3 compounds	No	15	A-
23	Maysville	3 compounds	No	8	B-
24	Flatwoods	3 compounds	Yes	16	B
25	Burgin	3 compounds	No	11	B-
26	Ewing	3 compounds	No	10	B+
27	Ledbetter	3 compounds	Yes	1	C+
28	Bowling Green	2 compounds	No	16	B
29	London	2 compounds	No	19	B-
30	Richmond	2 compounds	No	11	B
31	Barbourville	2 compounds	No	10	C+
32	Mt Washington	2 compounds	Yes	1	A-
33	Lawrenceburg	2 compounds	No	19	B
34	Taylorsville	2 compounds	Yes	1	A-
35	Versailles	2 compounds	No	7	B+
36	Crittenden	2 compounds	No	9	A-
37	Princeton	2 compounds	No	15	B+
38	Salem	2 compounds	Yes	10	B+
39	Salvisa	2 compounds	No	7	B+
40	Kuttawa	2 compounds	Yes	32	C-
41	Brooksville	2 compounds	No	1	A-
42	Bremen	2 compounds	No	0	A
43	Carrollton	2 compounds	No	3	B+
44	Wilmore	2 compounds	No	8	B+
45	Sharpsburg	2 compounds	No	20	B
46	Walton	2 compounds	No	1	A-
47	Grand Rivers	2 compounds	Yes	2	A-
48	Ft. Thomas	1 compounds	No	0	A-
49	Owensboro	1 compounds	Yes	5	A-
50	Burlington	1 compounds	No	6	B
51	Pikeville	1 compounds	No	79	D
52	Nicholasville	1 compounds	No	38	C-
53	Winchester	1 compounds	No	25	B+
54	Whitley City	1 compounds	No	3	A
55	Sedalia	1 compounds	No	5	B
56	Hazard	1 compounds	No	21	B-
57	Prestonsburg	1 compounds	No	11	A-
58	Shelbyville	1 compounds	No	4	A-
59	Bagdad	1 compounds	Yes	1	B+
60	Greenville	1 compounds	No	17	C+
61	Manchester	1 compounds	No	16	C
62	Franklin	1 compounds	No	2	A-
63	Mcdoqwell	1 compounds	No	26	C+
64	Elkton	1 compounds	No	8	A-
65	Knottsville	1 compounds	Yes	4	B+
66	Russellville	1 compounds	No	11	B+
67	Salt Lick	1 compounds	No	6	A-
68	Jackson	1 compounds	No	19	C
69	Hyden	1 compounds	No	2	A-
70	Irvine,	1 compounds	No	11	B
71	Russell Springs	1 compounds	No	10	B+
72	Inez	1 compounds	No	48	B-
73	Oak Grove	1 compounds	No	2	A
74	Dawson Springs, Ky 42408	1 compounds	No	3	A-
75	Louisa	1 compounds	No	7	A
76	Simpsonville	1 compounds	Yes	5	B+
77	South Shore	1 compounds	No	2	A-
78	Bloomfield	1 compounds	No	13	B
79	Beaver Dam	1 compounds	No	5	B+
80	Livermore	1 compounds	Yes	31	B
81	Nebo	1 compounds	No	15	B+
82	Harlan	1 compounds	No	2	A
83	Providence	1 compounds	No	53	D
84	Calisle	1 compounds	No	17	B-
85	Whitesburg	1 compounds	No	32	B+
86	Madisonville	1 compounds	No	15	B+
87	Whitesville	1 compounds	Yes	0	B+
88	Cumberland	1 compounds	No	9	B+
89	Benham	1 compounds	No	6	B
90	Livingston	1 compounds	No	0	D
91	Somerset	0 compounds	No	4	B+
92	Radcliff	0 compounds	No	1	A-
93	Henderson	0 compounds	No	7	B
94	Campbellsville	0 compounds	No	25	B
95	Buckner	0 compounds	No	3	A
96	Glasgow	0 compounds	No	3	A
97	Morehead	0 compounds	No	45	C+
98	Bradenburg	0 compounds	No	2	A-
99	Danville	0 compounds	No	10	A-
100	Benton	0 compounds	No	14	C+
101	Bardstown	0 compounds	No	13	B+
102	Florence	0 compounds	No	4	A
103	Leitchfield	0 compounds	No	9	A-
104	Murray	0 compounds	No	1	C-
105	Mayfield	0 compounds	No	3	C-
106	Berea	0 compounds	No	30	A-
107	Paintsville	0 compounds	No	10	A-
108	Lebanon	0 compounds	No	11	A-
109	Scottsville	0 compounds	No	5	B+
110	Grayson	0 compounds	No	26	B-
111	Monticello	0 compounds	No	7	A-
112	Horse Cave	0 compounds	No	3	A-
113	Hartford	0 compounds	No	77	C
114	Lancaster	0 compounds	No	13	B+
115	Hardinsburg	0 compounds	No	29	A-
116	Brownsville	0 compounds	No	26	D+
117	Campbellsburg	0 compounds	No	5	A-
118	Pineville	0 compounds	No	14	C+
119	Grennsburg	0 compounds	No	11	A-
120	Hodgenville	0 compounds	No	61	C
121	Mckee	0 compounds	No	60	B-
122	Liberty	0 compounds	No	32	C+
123	Flemingsburg	0 compounds	No	13	B+
124	Middlesboro	0 compounds	No	1	A-
125	Springfield	0 compounds	No	6	A
126	Mt Vernon	0 compounds	No	2	A-
127	Eubank	0 compounds	No	10	A-
128	Greenup	0 compounds	No	54	B-
129	Salyersville	0 compounds	No	46	B-
130	Lagrange	0 compounds	No	0	A-
131	West Liberty	0 compounds	No	21	B-
132	Cave City	0 compounds	No	11	B-
133	Vicco	0 compounds	No	11	B+
134	Burkesville	0 compounds	No	40	B-
135	Tompkinville, Ky	0 compounds	No	4	B+
136	Clay City	0 compounds	No	4	B+
137	Stanford	0 compounds	No	23	A-
138	Russellvile	0 compounds	No	8	A
139	Albany	0 compounds	No	21	B-
140	Edmonton	0 compounds	No	9	A-
141	Harrodsburg	0 compounds	No	8	A-
142	Dry Ridge	0 compounds	No	32	B
143	Mt. Sterling	0 compounds	No	118	D
144	Jamestown	0 compounds	No	23	B
145	Dixon	0 compounds	No	29	B-
146	Vanceburg	0 compounds	No	1	A
147	Vine Grove	0 compounds	No	3	B+
148	Stanton	0 compounds	No	6	B+
149	Campton	0 compounds	No	42	C+
150	Bronston	0 compounds	No	10	B+
151	Brodhead	0 compounds	No	4	A-
152	Olive Hill	0 compounds	No	16	B+
153	Science Hill	0 compounds	No	3	A-
154	Ghent	0 compounds	No	1	A-
155	Sparta	0 compounds	No	0	A
156	Central City	0 compounds	No	7	A
157	Milton	0 compounds	No	6	D
158	Mckinney	0 compounds	No	13	B+
159	Hustonville	0 compounds	No	5	A-
160	Frenchburg	0 compounds	No	4	A-
161	Booneville	0 compounds	No	21	B+
162	Jeffersonville	0 compounds	No	5	A-
163	Adairville	0 compounds	No	4	A-
164	Russell	0 compounds	No	18	A-
165	Brandenburg	0 compounds	No	2	B+
166	Eddyville	0 compounds	No	9	A-
167	Cawood	0 compounds	No	8	B+
168	Fulton	0 compounds	No	1	A-
169	Calvert City	0 compounds	No	1	A-
170	Bedford	0 compounds	No	1	A
171	Milton	0 compounds	No	6	F
172	Sandy Hook	0 compounds	No	0	A-
173	Hickman	0 compounds	No	1	B
174	Auburn	0 compounds	No	5	A-
175	Dawson Springs	0 compounds	No	27	A
176	Sebree	0 compounds	No	1	B-
177	Arlington	0 compounds	No	0	B+

FAQ

Frequently asked questions about pfas in Kentucky

Does Kentucky tap water contain PFAS?

PFAS were detected in 90 of 177 Kentucky cities tested under EPA's UCMR 5 program. 29 cities exceed the 2024 EPA MCL of 4 ppt for individual PFAS compounds.

How can I remove PFAS from my drinking water in Kentucky?

Reverse osmosis (RO) systems are the most effective at removing PFAS, typically removing 90%+ of compounds. High-quality activated carbon block filters (NSF 58-certified for RO, or NSF 53 for solid carbon) also provide significant reduction. Standard pitcher filters vary widely in PFAS removal.

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