Water Quality Report · Updated October 07, 2026
HARDIN COUNTY WATER DISTRICT #2
HARDIN COUNTY WATER DISTRICT #2 delivers tap water graded C (66/100) by TapWaterSafety.org. The utility serves approximately 76,326 residents in ELIZABETHTOWN, Kentucky using surface water. 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. For questions, the utility can be reached at 270-737-1056.
Is ELIZABETHTOWN tap water safe to drink?
HARDIN COUNTY WATER DISTRICT #2 delivers tap water that earns a grade of C (66/100) from TapWaterSafety.org — an average rating, with several contaminants above health guidelines but generally compliant with US legal limits.
The utility serves 76,326 residents in ELIZABETHTOWN, drawing from surface water. Despite being legal under US EPA standards, this water would fail the European Union's Drinking Water Directive, primarily due to pfas contamination.
Public testing data identifies 10 contaminants in this water above EWG's health-based guidelines, including: Haloacetic acids (HAA9), Perfluorohexane sulfonate (PFHXS), Haloacetic acids (HAA5), Total trihalomethanes (TTHMs), Perfluorononanoic acid (PFNA), Chromium (hexavalent), Nitrate, Perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA), Perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS), Atrazine. For most residents, a properly certified home filter at the kitchen tap is the most cost-effective way to reduce exposure to whatever's in your water. See our filter recommendations below, matched specifically to this utility's contaminant profile.
EPA compliance record
Official U.S. EPA records for HARDIN COUNTY WATER DISTRICT #2 (system ID KY0470175) 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.
Quick actions for ELIZABETHTOWN residents
Top concerns in this water
Based on the most recent EPA and EWG data, these are the most significant water quality issues for HARDIN COUNTY WATER DISTRICT #2.
PFAS contamination
Severe concernPerfluorononanoic 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 concernHaloacetic 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 concernPerfluorohexane 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 concernHaloacetic acids (HAA5) detected at 26.4 ppb, 264x above the EWG health guideline of 0.1 ppb.
Contact HARDIN COUNTY WATER DISTRICT #2
Reach the utility directly for service issues, water quality concerns, or to request your Consumer Confidence Report.
General Contact
Treatment Plant
Recommended water filters for ELIZABETHTOWN
Filters matched to the specific contaminants in this 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.
Score breakdown
This utility's overall score of 66/100 breaks down across five weighted components. Read the full methodology →
Contaminants detected — international standards comparison
Every contaminant detected, compared side-by-side against US EPA legal limits, the EU Drinking Water Directive (2020/2184), WHO Guidelines, and California's Public Health Goal (the strictest US benchmark). 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 |
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 (4th ed.), California OEHHA PHGs, EWG Tap Water Database.
HARDIN COUNTY WATER DISTRICT #2 service area
This water system serves 1 community in Hardin County, Kentucky. Click any city for its dedicated tap water quality page.
Find the right filter for ELIZABETHTOWN water
Browse filter categories by water-quality concern. Each option below is NSF-certified for the matched contaminant type.