Water Quality Report · Updated May 12, 2026
PADUCAH WATER WORKS
PADUCAH WATER WORKS delivers tap water graded D (57/100) by TapWaterSafety.org. The utility serves approximately 65,004 residents in PADUCAH, Kentucky using surface water. 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. For questions, the utility can be reached at 270-444-5550.
Is PADUCAH tap water safe to drink?
PADUCAH WATER WORKS delivers tap water that earns a grade of D (57/100) from TapWaterSafety.org — a below-average rating, with multiple concerns including pfas contamination.
The utility serves 65,004 residents in PADUCAH, 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 9 contaminants in this water above EWG's health-based guidelines, including: Perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS), Haloacetic acids (HAA9), Total trihalomethanes (TTHMs), Haloacetic acids (HAA5), Perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA), Chromium (hexavalent), Nitrate, Atrazine, Chlorate. 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.
Quick actions for PADUCAH residents
Top concerns in this water
Based on the most recent EPA and EWG data, these are the most significant water quality issues for PADUCAH WATER WORKS.
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.
Contact PADUCAH WATER WORKS
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 PADUCAH
Filters matched to the specific contaminants in this water supply.
Reverse Osmosis or NSF P473 certified carbon
$80-$750Activated carbon and RO are the only technologies proven to remove PFAS at certified levels.
Carbon block (NSF/ANSI 42 + 53)
$40-$750Activated carbon is highly effective for disinfection byproducts like TTHM and HAA5.
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 57/100 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 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 (4th ed.), California OEHHA PHGs, EWG Tap Water Database.
PADUCAH WATER WORKS service area
This water system serves 1 community in McCracken County, Kentucky. Click any city for its dedicated tap water quality page.
Find the right filter for PADUCAH water
Browse filter categories by water-quality concern. Each option below is NSF-certified for the matched contaminant type.