PFAS · Kentucky
PFAS in Kentucky drinking water: EPA’s final survey results
EPA’s national PFAS survey (UCMR 5) tested 230 of the community water systems that serve homes in Kentucky. 86 found at least one of 29 PFAS above the laboratory reporting level, and 9 had a PFOA or PFOS sampling-location yearly average at or above EPA’s 4.0 ppt limit. Samples were collected from January 2023 to June 2026.
Data as of EPA UCMR 5 final release, August 2026 (file dated Aug 28, 2026) · EPA SDWIS 2026Q2 (file dated Jul 9, 2026). How we build these pages
PFPeA was the compound Kentucky community systems found most often: 45 of 230 tested systems measured it above the reporting level. Across the country, 35% of surveyed community systems found at least one PFAS; in Kentucky the share is 37%. The largest Kentucky system with a detection, Louisville Water Company, serves 806,997 people and found 4 of the 29 compounds.
Which PFAS were found most often in Kentucky
Each row counts the Kentucky community water systems where that compound was measured above the reporting level at least once. A detection is a measurement, not a violation: most of these compounds have no federal limit.
| Compound | Systems where found | Systems tested | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| PFPeA | 45 | 230 | 20% |
| PFBA | 41 | 230 | 18% |
| PFHxA | 25 | 230 | 11% |
| PFOA | 25 | 230 | 11% |
| PFBS | 22 | 230 | 10% |
| 6:2 FTS | 14 | 230 | 6% |
| PFOS | 12 | 230 | 5% |
| PFHxS | 7 | 230 | 3% |
| PFHpA | 6 | 230 | 3% |
| HFPO-DA (GenX) | 3 | 230 | 1% |
| PFNA | 1 | 230 | 0% |
Kentucky systems with the most PFAS found
The 10 surveyed community water systems that found the most different PFAS, with PFOA and PFOS compared to EPA’s 4.0 ppt limits on the yearly average at the highest sampling location. Larger systems come first when counts tie.
| Water system | People served | PFAS found (of 29) | PFOA | PFOS |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Georgetown Municipal Water Service KY1050157 | 44,608 | 8 | 2.3 ppt below the MCL | 5.9 ppt at or above the MCL |
| East Pendleton Water District KY0960112 | 5,515 | 8 | 1.0 ppt below the MCL | — not detected above the reporting level |
| Hardin County Water District #2 KY0470175 | 76,326 | 7 | 1.6 ppt below the MCL | 1.3 ppt below the MCL |
| Harrison Co Water Association KY0490179 | 16,736 | 7 | — not detected above the reporting level | 15.2 ppt at or above the MCL |
| Whitley Co Water District KY1180468 | 9,825 | 6 | 4.5 ppt at or above the MCL | 1.2 ppt below the MCL |
| Cumberland Falls Highway Water District KY1180093 | 9,498 | 6 | 3.3 ppt below the MCL | — not detected above the reporting level |
| Beattyville Water Works KY0650024 | 8,428 | 6 | 1.4 ppt below the MCL | 1.4 ppt below the MCL |
| Kentucky-American Water Co KY0340250 | 669,042 | 5 | — not detected above the reporting level | — not detected above the reporting level |
| Paducah Water Works KY0730533 | 65,004 | 5 | 2.6 ppt below the MCL | 6.0 ppt at or above the MCL |
| Corbin Utilities Commission KY1180085 | 16,065 | 5 | 4.1 ppt at or above the MCL | — not detected above the reporting level |
Counties with the most systems that found PFAS
- Daviess County 5 of 5 surveyed systems
- Laurel County 4 of 5 surveyed systems
- Hopkins County 4 of 5 surveyed systems
- Boyd County 3 of 3 surveyed systems
- Shelby County 3 of 4 surveyed systems
- Whitley County 3 of 4 surveyed systems
- Mason County 3 of 3 surveyed systems
- Livingston County 3 of 3 surveyed systems