Is Florence, KY tap water safe?
Data: U.S. EPA · How we read the data · How we check it
Summary
No federal limits exceeded in EPA data for Boone County Water & Sewer District. 1 PFAS were detected below the limits.
2 public water systems serve parts of Florence. The largest, Boone County Water & Sewer District, serves 66,300 people. Your water bill names your system.
Largest system
Boone County Water & Sewer District
66,300 people · Purchased surface water · EPA ID KY0080034
Buys treated water from Boone-Florence Water Commission, Northern Kentucky Water District.
| PFAS | Highest average | Limit |
|---|---|---|
| PFOA Not detected | – | 4 ppt |
| PFOS Not detected | – | 4 ppt |
| PFHxS Not detected | – | 10 ppt |
| PFNA Not detected | – | 10 ppt |
| HFPO-DA (GenX) Not detected | – | 10 ppt |
ppt = parts per trillion. "Highest average" is the highest average at any of the system's entry points, the way EPA compares results with the limits.
Lead: 1 ppb at the 90th percentile (Nov 2026, and 9 in 10 homes sampled were at or below it) Below action level
Health-based violations since 2016: 0
Across Kentucky, 9 of 230 water systems EPA tested had PFAS above a 2024 federal limit, and 0 systems were above the lead action level in results from the last five years. Kentucky results.
Florence homes and lead pipes
Lead service lines and lead solder were allowed until 1986, so homes from before then are the ones to check. Renting? Ask your landlord what the service line is made of, because it's their pipe to replace. How to check your own line.
Housing: Census American Community Survey 2020–2024 5-year estimates for Florence city (tables B25034, B25003). Estimates for small places have a margin of error.
Other water systems serving Florence
- Florence Water & Sewer29,351 people · Purchased surface water · Kentucky · reported ZIPs hereNo PFAS above limits
How nearby cities compare
| City | PFAS | Lead (90th pct.) |
|---|---|---|
| Independence 6 mi Northern Kentucky Water District | None above limits | 0 ppb |
| Covington 7 mi Northern Kentucky Water District | None above limits | 0 ppb |
| Georgetown 51 mi Georgetown Municipal Water Service | Above limit | 5 ppb |
| Frankfort 56 mi Frankfort Plant Board | None above limits | 2 ppb |
| Lexington 66 mi Kentucky American Water | None above limits | 0 ppb |
| Nicholasville 76 mi Nicholasville Water Department | None above limits | 0 ppb |
Florence ZIP codes (1)
- 41042
Questions
Is Florence tap water safe to drink?
Boone County Water & Sewer District has had no health-based violations since 2016. Utility data can't show lead from your own pipes: if your home was built before 1986, test your tap. Your utility's annual Consumer Confidence Report is the official summary.
Who supplies water in Florence, KY?
2 public water systems serve parts of Florence. The largest is Boone County Water & Sewer District (66,300 people). Your water bill names your system. The EPA ID is also on your utility's Consumer Confidence Report.
Does Florence tap water have PFAS?
Boone County Water & Sewer District had 1 PFAS detected at least once in EPA's 2023–2025 testing, all with averages below the federal limits.
Do Florence homes have lead pipes?
Census estimates put 43% of Florence homes as built before 1980 (Kentucky: 47%). Lead service lines and lead solder were allowed until 1986, so older homes are more likely to have them. Boone County Water & Sewer District's service line inventory says what your line is made of. The only way to know for your home is to check the line where it enters the house and test your tap.
Source: U.S. EPA drinking water records and PFAS testing (UCMR 5). How we read the data.