Is Nicholasville, 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 Nicholasville Water Department.
Nicholasville Water Department supplies Nicholasville (35,266 people).
Water system
Nicholasville Water Department
35,266 people · Surface water · EPA ID KY0570315
Buys treated water from Kentucky American Water.
| 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: 0 ppb at the 90th percentile (Dec 2025, and 9 in 10 homes sampled were at or below it) Below action level
Health-based violations since 2016: 1
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.
Nicholasville 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 Nicholasville city (tables B25034, B25003). Estimates for small places have a margin of error.
How nearby cities compare
| City | PFAS | Lead (90th pct.) |
|---|---|---|
| Lexington 12 mi Kentucky American Water | None above limits | 0 ppb |
| Richmond 19 mi Richmond Utilities | None above limits | 0 ppb |
| Georgetown 26 mi Georgetown Municipal Water Service | Above limit | 5 ppb |
| Frankfort 27 mi Frankfort Plant Board | None above limits | 2 ppb |
| Independence 74 mi Northern Kentucky Water District | None above limits | 0 ppb |
| Florence 76 mi Boone County Water & Sewer District | None above limits | 1 ppb |
Nicholasville ZIP codes (1)
- 40356
Questions
Is Nicholasville tap water safe to drink?
Nicholasville Water Department had 1 health-based violation 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 Nicholasville, KY?
Nicholasville Water Department, which serves 35,266 people.
Does Nicholasville tap water have PFAS?
None detected above EPA's reporting limits. Nicholasville Water Department had no PFAS detected in EPA's 2023–2025 testing. "Not detected" means below the reporting limit (about 2 to 20 ppt), not proven zero.
Do Nicholasville homes have lead pipes?
Census estimates put 28% of Nicholasville 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. Nicholasville Water Department'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.