Tap Water Quality Report

Tap water quality in ELIZABETHTOWN, Kentucky

Served by HARDIN COUNTY WATER DISTRICT #2. 76,326 residents.

Average score 53/100
Utilities 1
Population 76,326
Quick answer

Tap water in ELIZABETHTOWN, Kentucky receives a grade of F (53/100) from TapWaterSafety.org. It's served by HARDIN COUNTY WATER DISTRICT #2. The most significant water quality concerns are: PFAS contamination; Haloacetic acids (HAA9) significantly above health guideline; Perfluorohexane sulfonate (PFHXS) significantly above health guideline; Haloacetic acids (HAA5) significantly above health guideline. Data sources: EPA SDWIS, EPA ECHO, EWG Tap Water Database.

Data sources for this grade: utilities.csv EWG Tap Water Database ⓘ How did we get this rating?

What's in ELIZABETHTOWN's tap water

Top water quality concerns identified by the EPA and Environmental Working Group across the utility serving ELIZABETHTOWN.

PFAS contamination

Severe concern

Perfluorononanoic acid (PFNA), Perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS) detected. PFAS are persistent chemicals linked to cancer and immune effects with no known safe exposure threshold.

Haloacetic acids (HAA9) significantly above health guideline

Moderate concern

Haloacetic acids (HAA9) detected at 25.7 ppb, 428x above the EWG health guideline of 0.06 ppb.

Perfluorohexane sulfonate (PFHXS) significantly above health guideline

Moderate concern

Perfluorohexane sulfonate (PFHXS) detected at 0.392 ppt, 392x above the EWG health guideline of 0.001 ppt.

Haloacetic acids (HAA5) significantly above health guideline

Moderate concern

Haloacetic acids (HAA5) detected at 26.4 ppb, 264x above the EWG health guideline of 0.1 ppb.

Recommended filters for ELIZABETHTOWN

Filters matched to the specific contaminants in ELIZABETHTOWN's water supply.

Reverse Osmosis or NSF P473 certified carbon

$80-$750

Activated carbon and RO are the only technologies proven to remove PFAS at certified levels.

AquaTru Countertop Reverse Osmosis
$449-$599 NSF 42, 53, 58, 401, P473
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Aquasana OptimH2O Reverse Osmosis + Claryum
$429-$549 NSF 42, 53, 58, 401, P473
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Waterdrop G3P800 Tankless RO
$600-$750 NSF 58, 372
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Waterdrop N1 Countertop RO
$249-$329 NSF 58, 372
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Clearly Filtered Pitcher Filter
$80-$95 NSF 42, 53, 401, P473
Editorial pick · affiliate link coming soon

Disclosure: TapWaterSafety earns a commission from purchases made through these links. This does not influence our scoring methodology or filter selection.

All contaminants detected in ELIZABETHTOWN's tap water

Every contaminant identified, compared side-by-side against US EPA legal limits, the EU Drinking Water Directive (2020/2184), WHO Guidelines, and California's Public Health Goal. Why we show multiple standards →

🇪🇺
ELIZABETHTOWN's tap water would fail European Union drinking water standards. One or more detected contaminants exceed EU Drinking Water Directive 2020/2184 limits, even though they may be fully legal under US EPA rules. View the standards we compare against →
Contaminant Detected EWG
US health-based
EPA
US legal
EU DWD
Europe
WHO
global
CA PHG
strictest US
Tested
sample year
Status
Haloacetic acids (HAA9)
Disinfection byproduct
25.7 ppb 0.06 428× over
Perfluorohexane sulfonate (PFHXS)
PFAS
0.392 ppt 0.001 10.0 392× over
Haloacetic acids (HAA5)
Disinfection byproduct
26.4 ppb 0.1 60.0 60 264× over
Total trihalomethanes (TTHMs)
Disinfection byproduct
29.8 ppb 0.15 80.0 100 199× over
Perfluorononanoic acid (PFNA)
PFAS
0.316 ppt 0.006 10.0 53× over
Chromium (hexavalent)
Heavy metal
0.316 ppb 0.02 16× over
Nitrate
Inorganic
1.96 ppm 0.14 10.0 11.3 11.3 10 14× over
Perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA)
PFAS
0.366 ppt 0.09 4.0 100 100 0.007 4.1× over
Perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS)
PFAS
0.8 ppt 0.3 4.0 100 100 1 2.7× over
Atrazine
Pesticide/Herbicide
0.109 ppb 0.1 3.0 0.1 100 0.15 Fails EU
Di(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate
Semi-volatile organic compound
0.6 ppb 3.0 6.0 Below guideline
Chlorate
Disinfection byproduct
19.8 ppb 210.0 Below guideline
Barium
Heavy metal
37.2 ppb 700.0 2000.0 1300 2000 Below guideline
Aluminum
Heavy metal
31.7 ppb 600.0 200 600 Below guideline
Molybdenum
Other
1.45 ppb 40.0 Below guideline
Vanadium
Other
0.338 ppb 21.0 Below guideline
Manganese
Heavy metal
0.462 ppb 100.0 50 80 Below guideline
2,4-D
Pesticide/Herbicide
0.05 ppb 20.0 70.0 Below guideline
Perfluoroheptanoic acid (PFHPA)
PFAS
0.288 ppt 1000.0 Below guideline
Perfluorobutane sulfonate (PFBS)
PFAS
0.432 ppt 2000.0 Below guideline
Strontium
Radiological
0.225 ppb 1500.0 Below guideline
1-Butanol
Other
5.37 ppb Below guideline
Chromium (total)
Heavy metal
0.233 ppb 100.0 Below guideline
Fluoride
Inorganic
0.686 ppm 4.0 1.5 1.5 Below guideline

All values in the unit of the detected level. Red cells indicate the detected level exceeds that standard. Some contaminants have limits in some jurisdictions but not others (shown as —). The "Tested" column shows the year each contaminant sample was collected.

Sources: US EPA, EU Drinking Water Directive 2020/2184, WHO Guidelines, California OEHHA PHGs, EWG Tap Water Database.

Treatment plant contact info

For service issues, water quality concerns, or to request a Consumer Confidence Report from HARDIN COUNTY WATER DISTRICT #2.

Treatment Plant

FacilityWHITE MILLS WTPA

ZIP codes served

ELIZABETHTOWN's public water systems serve the following ZIP codes: