Kentucky PFAS results from EPA's final data
Report published Nov 14, 2026 · EPA UCMR 5 final data file of Oct 15, 2026 (samples collected 2023–2025) · Method · National results →
9 Kentucky water systems serving 199,762 people had PFAS above a 2024 federal limit in EPA's final round of nationwide PFAS testing: 4% of the 230 Kentucky systems tested, compared with 11% nationally.
Highest PFOA or PFOS averages in Kentucky
- Harrison County Water Association Cynthiana · PFOS15.2 ppt
- Cynthiana Municipal Water Works Cynthiana · PFOS14.8 ppt
- Paducah Water Works Paducah · PFOS6 ppt
- Georgetown Municipal Water Service Georgetown · PFOS5.9 ppt
- Whitesville Water Works Whitesville · PFOA5.45 ppt
- Whitley County Water District Williamsburg · PFOA4.53 ppt
- Daviess County Water District Owensboro · PFOA4.45 ppt
- Corbin Utilities Commission Corbin · PFOA4.13 ppt
- North McLean County Water District Livermore · PFOA4.13 ppt
- Cumberland Falls Highway Water District Corbin · PFOA3.32 ppt
- Mt Washington Water Company Mount Washington · PFOA2.85 ppt
- Taylorsville Water Works Taylorsville · PFOA2.8 ppt
- Sturgis Water Works Sturgis · PFOA2.7 ppt
- Owensboro Municipal Utilities Owensboro · PFOA2.5 ppt
- East Daviess County Water Association Inc Knottsville · PFOA2.5 ppt
Chart data as a table
| System | ppt |
|---|---|
| Harrison County Water Association · Cynthiana · PFOS | 15.2 |
| Cynthiana Municipal Water Works · Cynthiana · PFOS | 14.8 |
| Paducah Water Works · Paducah · PFOS | 6 |
| Georgetown Municipal Water Service · Georgetown · PFOS | 5.9 |
| Whitesville Water Works · Whitesville · PFOA | 5.45 |
| Whitley County Water District · Williamsburg · PFOA | 4.53 |
| Daviess County Water District · Owensboro · PFOA | 4.45 |
| Corbin Utilities Commission · Corbin · PFOA | 4.13 |
| North McLean County Water District · Livermore · PFOA | 4.13 |
| Cumberland Falls Highway Water District · Corbin · PFOA | 3.32 |
| Mt Washington Water Company · Mount Washington · PFOA | 2.85 |
| Taylorsville Water Works · Taylorsville · PFOA | 2.8 |
| Sturgis Water Works · Sturgis · PFOA | 2.7 |
| Owensboro Municipal Utilities · Owensboro · PFOA | 2.5 |
| East Daviess County Water Association Inc · Knottsville · PFOA | 2.5 |
Largest systems above a limit
| # | System | People served |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Paducah Water Works Paducah Above: PFOS | 65,004 |
| 2 | Georgetown Municipal Water Service Georgetown Above: PFOS | 44,608 |
| 3 | Daviess County Water District Owensboro Above: PFOA | 33,655 |
| 4 | Harrison County Water Association Cynthiana Above: PFOS | 16,736 |
| 5 | Corbin Utilities Commission Corbin Above: PFOA | 16,065 |
| 6 | Whitley County Water District Williamsburg Above: PFOA | 9,825 |
| 7 | Cynthiana Municipal Water Works Cynthiana Above: PFOS | 7,263 |
| 8 | Whitesville Water Works Whitesville Above: PFOA | 3,672 |
| 9 | North McLean County Water District Livermore Above: PFOA | 2,934 |
Which limits were exceeded
| PFAS | Federal limit | Systems above it |
|---|---|---|
| PFOA 66,151 people | 4 ppt | 5 |
| PFOS 133,611 people | 4 ppt | 4 |
| PFHxS | 10 ppt | 0 |
| PFNA | 10 ppt | 0 |
| GenX (HFPO-DA) | 10 ppt | 0 |
| Hazard Index | 1 | 0 |
"–" in the table above means not detected. A system can be above more than one limit. EPA proposed in May 2026 to rescind the PFHxS, PFNA, GenX and Hazard Index limits. That proposal is not final.
Data and how to cite it
- Download every Kentucky water system as CSV (PFOA and PFOS averages, systems above a limit, lead, violations).
- EPA's source file: UCMR 5 occurrence data.
Suggested citation:
Tap Water Results, "Kentucky PFAS results from EPA's final UCMR 5 data" (published Nov 14, 2026, EPA data file of Oct 15, 2026). https://tapwaterresults.com/pfas/kentucky/
You're welcome to quote and republish these figures with a link back. Questions from reporters: see contact.
Method
For each system we average each entry point's UCMR 5 results (non-detects count as zero, complete sets of samples only) and compare the highest entry-point average with the 2024 federal limit, using EPA's rounding. This is how EPA compares UCMR 5 results to the limits in its own data summary, and our national counts match EPA's published table within 2% (how we check). Results are monitoring data from 2023–2025, not compliance determinations, and treatment installed since then is not reflected. Full method.
Questions
How many Kentucky water systems have PFAS above the limit?
9 of the 230 Kentucky community water systems EPA tested in 2023–2025 (4%) had at least one entry-point average above a 2024 federal PFAS limit. They serve 199,762 people. Nationally the share is 11%.
Are these systems violating the law?
Not yet. Systems have until 2029 to meet the 2024 limits, and EPA has proposed moving the PFOA and PFOS deadline to 2031 and rescinding the other limits. EPA's UCMR 5 results are monitoring data and do not determine compliance.
Which systems were tested?
EPA's UCMR 5 tested every community water system serving more than 3,300 people and a representative sample of smaller ones. Systems that were not tested have no federal result, which is not the same as having no PFAS.
All Kentucky water systems → · National results → · PFAS results for every state →
Source: U.S. EPA drinking water records and PFAS testing (UCMR 5). How we read the data.