Tap Water Quality Report
Tap water quality in Lexington, Kentucky
Tap water in Lexington, Kentucky receives a grade of C (71/100) from TapWaterSafety.org. It's served by KENTUCKY-AMERICAN WATER CO. The most significant water quality concerns are: PFAS contamination; Haloacetic acids (HAA9) significantly above health guideline; Haloacetic acids (HAA5) significantly above health guideline; Total trihalomethanes (TTHMs) significantly above health guideline; Arsenic detected. Data sources: EPA SDWIS, EPA ECHO, EWG Tap Water Database.
What's in Lexington's tap water
Top water quality concerns identified by the EPA and Environmental Working Group across the utility serving Lexington.
PFAS contamination
Severe concernPerfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS), Perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) 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 concernHaloacetic acids (HAA9) detected at 27.2 ppb, 453x above the EWG health guideline of 0.06 ppb.
Haloacetic acids (HAA5) significantly above health guideline
Moderate concernHaloacetic acids (HAA5) detected at 28.3 ppb, 283x above the EWG health guideline of 0.1 ppb.
Total trihalomethanes (TTHMs) significantly above health guideline
Moderate concernTotal trihalomethanes (TTHMs) detected at 36.8 ppb, 245x above the EWG health guideline of 0.15 ppb.
Arsenic detected
Moderate concernArsenic detected at 0.889 ppb.
EPA compliance record
Official U.S. EPA records for KENTUCKY-AMERICAN WATER CO (system ID KY0340250) for the last 3 years. Checked 2026-10-07.
Source: U.S. EPA Enforcement and Compliance History Online (ECHO), from the Safe Drinking Water Information System. See EPA's full report.
Recommended filters for Lexington
Filters matched to the specific contaminants in Lexington's water supply.
Filter certified for PFOA/PFOS (NSF/ANSI 53 or 58)
$180-$750Reverse osmosis and some carbon block filters reduce PFAS. Look for certification to NSF/ANSI 53 or 58 for PFOA/PFOS.
Carbon filter certified for VOCs (NSF/ANSI 53)
$180-$599Activated carbon is effective for disinfection byproducts. Look for NSF/ANSI 53 VOC reduction.
Reverse osmosis certified for arsenic (NSF/ANSI 58)
$429-$599Reverse osmosis certified under NSF/ANSI 58 for arsenic is the most reliable home option.
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 Lexington'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 →
| 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 |
27.2 ppb | 0.06 | — | — | — | — | — | 453× over |
| Haloacetic acids (HAA5) Disinfection byproduct |
28.3 ppb | 0.1 | 60.0 | 60 | — | — | — | 283× over |
| Total trihalomethanes (TTHMs) Disinfection byproduct |
36.8 ppb | 0.15 | 80.0 | 100 | — | — | — | 245× over |
| Arsenic Heavy metal |
0.889 ppb | 0.004 | 10.0 | 10 | 10 | 0.004 | — | 222× over |
| Chromium (hexavalent) Heavy metal |
0.0763 ppb | 0.02 | — | — | — | — | — | 3.8× over |
| Nitrate Inorganic |
0.287 ppm | 0.14 | 10.0 | 11.3 | 11.3 | 10 | — | 2.0× over |
| Nitrate and nitrite Inorganic |
0.287 ppm | 0.14 | 10.0 | 11.3 | 11.3 | 10 | — | 2.0× over |
| 6:2 Fluorotelomer Sulfonic Acid (6:2 FTSA) Other |
1.08 ppt | 1.0 | — | — | — | — | — | 1.1× over |
| Perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS) PFAS |
0.265 ppt | 0.3 | 4.0 | 100 | 100 | 1 | — | Below guideline |
| Perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) PFAS |
0.058 ppt | 0.09 | 4.0 | 100 | 100 | 0.007 | — | Below guideline |
| Aluminum Heavy metal |
39.4 ppb | 600.0 | — | 200 | — | 600 | — | Below guideline |
| Manganese Heavy metal |
0.959 ppb | 100.0 | — | 50 | 80 | — | — | Below guideline |
| Vanadium Other |
0.153 ppb | 21.0 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| 2,4-D Pesticide/Herbicide |
0.111 ppb | 20.0 | 70.0 | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Molybdenum Other |
0.153 ppb | 40.0 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Perfluoropentanoic Acid (PFPeA) PFAS |
0.794 ppt | 1000.0 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Perfluorobutanoic Acid (PFBA) PFAS |
0.325 ppt | 1000.0 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Perfluorohexanoic Acid (PFHxA) PFAS |
0.231 ppt | 1000.0 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Perfluorobutane sulfonate (PFBS) PFAS |
0.454 ppt | 2000.0 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Strontium Radiological |
0.227 ppb | 1500.0 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Fluoride Inorganic |
0.742 ppm | — | 4.0 | 1.5 | 1.5 | — | — | Below guideline |
| Lithium Other |
0.938 ppb | — | — | — | — | — | — | 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 KENTUCKY-AMERICAN WATER CO.
General Contact
Treatment Plant
ZIP codes served
Lexington's public water systems serve the following ZIP codes: