Tap Water Quality Report
Tap water quality in PADUCAH, Kentucky
Tap water in PADUCAH, Kentucky receives a grade of D (69/100) from TapWaterSafety.org. It's served by PADUCAH WATER WORKS. The most significant water quality concerns are: PFAS contamination; Haloacetic acids (HAA9) significantly above health guideline; Total trihalomethanes (TTHMs) significantly above health guideline; Haloacetic acids (HAA5) significantly above health guideline. Data sources: EPA SDWIS, EPA ECHO, EWG Tap Water Database.
What's in PADUCAH's tap water
Top water quality concerns identified by the EPA and Environmental Working Group across the utility serving PADUCAH.
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 40.3 ppb, 671x above the EWG health guideline of 0.06 ppb.
Total trihalomethanes (TTHMs) significantly above health guideline
Moderate concernTotal trihalomethanes (TTHMs) detected at 46.9 ppb, 313x above the EWG health guideline of 0.15 ppb.
Haloacetic acids (HAA5) significantly above health guideline
Moderate concernHaloacetic acids (HAA5) detected at 30.1 ppb, 301x above the EWG health guideline of 0.1 ppb.
EPA compliance record
Official U.S. EPA records for PADUCAH WATER WORKS (system ID KY0730533) 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 PADUCAH
Filters matched to the specific contaminants in PADUCAH'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.
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 PADUCAH'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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS) PFAS |
5.05 ppt | 0.3 | 4.0 | 100 | 100 | 1 | — | EPA violation |
| Haloacetic acids (HAA9) Disinfection byproduct |
40.3 ppb | 0.06 | — | — | — | — | — | 671× over |
| Total trihalomethanes (TTHMs) Disinfection byproduct |
46.9 ppb | 0.15 | 80.0 | 100 | — | — | — | 313× over |
| Haloacetic acids (HAA5) Disinfection byproduct |
30.1 ppb | 0.1 | 60.0 | 60 | — | — | — | 301× over |
| Perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) PFAS |
3.29 ppt | 0.09 | 4.0 | 100 | 100 | 0.007 | — | 37× over |
| Chromium (hexavalent) Heavy metal |
0.085 ppb | 0.02 | — | — | — | — | — | 4.3× over |
| Nitrate Inorganic |
0.522 ppm | 0.14 | 10.0 | 11.3 | 11.3 | 10 | — | 3.7× over |
| Atrazine Pesticide/Herbicide |
0.2 ppb | 0.1 | 3.0 | 0.1 | 100 | 0.15 | — | Fails EU |
| Chlorate Disinfection byproduct |
347.5 ppb | 210.0 | — | — | — | — | — | 1.7× over |
| 1,4-Dioxane Semi-volatile organic compound |
0.163 ppb | 0.35 | — | — | 50 | 1 | — | Below guideline |
| Hexafluoropropylene oxide dimer acid (HFPO-DA) Other |
1.63 ppt | 9.0 | 10.0 | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Manganese Heavy metal |
7.4 ppb | 100.0 | — | 50 | 80 | — | — | Below guideline |
| Barium Heavy metal |
20.7 ppb | 700.0 | 2000.0 | — | 1300 | 2000 | — | Below guideline |
| Vanadium Other |
0.513 ppb | 21.0 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Molybdenum Other |
0.8 ppb | 40.0 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Aluminum Heavy metal |
10.0 ppb | 600.0 | — | 200 | — | 600 | — | Below guideline |
| 2,4-D Pesticide/Herbicide |
0.107 ppb | 20.0 | 70.0 | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Perfluorobutane sulfonate (PFBS) PFAS |
2.01 ppt | 2000.0 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Perfluoroheptanoic acid (PFHPA) PFAS |
0.373 ppt | 1000.0 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Strontium Radiological |
0.102 ppb | 1500.0 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Alpha-hexachlorocyclohexane Radiological |
0.0168 ppb | — | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Dalapon Pesticide/Herbicide |
0.555 ppb | — | 200.0 | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Fluoride Inorganic |
0.547 ppm | — | 4.0 | 1.5 | 1.5 | — | — | Below guideline |
| Permethrin Other |
0.0104 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 PADUCAH WATER WORKS.