Water Quality Report · Updated October 07, 2026
KENTUCKY-AMERICAN WATER CO
KENTUCKY-AMERICAN WATER CO delivers tap water graded C (71/100) by TapWaterSafety.org. The utility serves approximately 669,042 residents in LEXINGTON, Kentucky using surface water. 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. For questions, the utility can be reached at 859-268-6317.
Is LEXINGTON tap water safe to drink?
KENTUCKY-AMERICAN WATER CO delivers tap water that earns a grade of C (71/100) from TapWaterSafety.org — an average rating, with several contaminants above health guidelines but generally compliant with US legal limits.
The utility serves 669,042 residents in LEXINGTON, drawing from surface water.
Public testing data identifies 8 contaminants in this water above EWG's health-based guidelines, including: Haloacetic acids (HAA9), Haloacetic acids (HAA5), Total trihalomethanes (TTHMs), Arsenic, Chromium (hexavalent), Nitrate, Nitrate and nitrite, 6:2 Fluorotelomer Sulfonic Acid (6:2 FTSA). 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 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.
Quick actions for LEXINGTON residents
Top concerns in this water
Based on the most recent EPA and EWG data, these are the most significant water quality issues for KENTUCKY-AMERICAN WATER CO.
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.
Contact KENTUCKY-AMERICAN WATER CO
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 LEXINGTON
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.
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.
Score breakdown
This utility's overall score of 71/100 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 |
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 (4th ed.), California OEHHA PHGs, EWG Tap Water Database.
KENTUCKY-AMERICAN WATER CO service area
This water system serves 1 community in Fayette County, Kentucky. Click any city for its dedicated tap water quality page.
Find the right filter for LEXINGTON water
Browse filter categories by water-quality concern. Each option below is NSF-certified for the matched contaminant type.