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OWENSBORO MUNICIPAL UTILITIESlikely match
City water report · 2026

Is Owensboro Tap Water Safe? 2026 Water Quality Report

Short answer: PFOA is above its federal limit (a 2024 limit that water systems have until at least 2029 to meet); everything else measured is within its reference or not detected. Owensboro Municipal Utilities serves 60,473 residents.

Explore the findingsWhat can I do?Follow
Likely match, check your bill

OWENSBORO MUNICIPAL UTILITIES serves Owensboro

Your water bill or annual water quality report names your actual supplier.

Source
Groundwater
Lead service lines
0 lead
What stands out

One PFAS above the 2024 federal limit

The bar is drawn in blocks of the 4.0 ng/L federal MCL (2024), so the length shows how far above it the result sits.

PFOA

Perfluorooctanoic acid

1.3× the limit

5ng/L

Each block = 4.0 ng/L federal MCL (2024)

EPA UCMR 5 · sampled 2023Evidence

Coverage by group

31 results on record
  • PFAS (forever chemicals)1 above · 28 not detected
  • Metals & lead1 not detected
  • Disinfection by-productsNot monitored
  • Other1 not detected
Every detected result

One detected result

OWENSBORO MUNICIPAL UTILITIES (EPA PWSID KY0300336) delivers groundwater to 60,473 residents. This report reflects 29 individual PFAS result(s) from the source UCMR5 observations and the latest Lead & Copper Rule 90th-percentile result. Water hardness and disinfectant type are pending the utility's own annual report.

30 other contaminants tested, none detected
  • 11Cl-PF3OUdS
  • 4:2 FTS
  • 6:2 FTS
  • 8:2 FTS
  • 9Cl-PF3ONS
  • ADONA
  • HFPO-DA (GenX)
  • NEtFOSAA
  • NFDHA
  • NMeFOSAA
  • PFBA
  • PFBS
  • PFDA
  • PFDoA
  • PFEESA
  • PFHpA
  • PFHpS
  • PFHxA
  • PFHxS
  • PFMBA
  • PFMPA
  • PFNA
  • PFOS
  • PFPeA
  • PFPeS
  • PFTA
  • PFTrDA
  • PFUnA
  • Lithium
  • Lead (90th percentile)
Track record

0health-based violations in the last 10 years

From EPA SDWIS. A clean violation history means no enforcement action was recorded; it does not cover contaminants without a limit.

Not in this recordDisinfection by-products weren't monitored in this dataset

No result is not a pass. Your utility's annual water quality report may list them, and a certified lab test covers your own tap.

What you can do

Test first, then treat what was found

  1. 01 · TestTest your own tap

    The records describe the system. A certified lab test shows what reaches your glass.

    Certified lab
    How to test your tap →
  2. 02 · Treat PFASReverse osmosis, or carbon certified for PFAS

    PFOA 5 ng/L, above the 4 ng/L limit

    NSF/ANSI 58 or 53 (PFOA/PFOS)
    Treatment for PFAS →

Understand water treatment technologies →

Commercial

Certified for a concern found here

Each card names which Owensboro findings its current certification covers, and which it doesn't.

As an Amazon Associate, PurityMap earns from qualifying purchases. A product appears here only when a current certification record covers at least one identified concern; every concern stays listed. The retail offer is looked up afterwards and never changes which products appear or their order. Affiliate disclosure.

Under-Sink Filter

Aquasana Claryum 3-Stage Max Flow Under-Sink Filter (AQ-6300M)

  • PFOA: eligible, evidence match
Not suitable for (5)
  • Treating every tap in the home
  • A whole-home hard-water or scale problem
  • All PFAS: its evidence covers only the compounds it names
  • Anyone who can't plumb, drill or hire an installer
  • Renters who can't modify plumbing
See the evidenceCheck price on Amazon
Countertop System

Aquasana Clean Water Machine Countertop Filter (AQ-CWM2)

  • PFOA: eligible, evidence match
Not suitable for (3)
  • Treating every tap in the home
  • A whole-home hard-water or scale problem
  • All PFAS: its evidence covers only the compounds it names
See the evidenceCheck price on Amazon
See all 6 products certified for a Owensboro concern →
Countertop System

AquaTru Classic Countertop Reverse-Osmosis Purifier (AT2000)

  • PFOA: eligible, evidence match
Not suitable for (3)
  • Treating every tap in the home
  • A whole-home hard-water or scale problem
  • All PFAS: its evidence covers only the compounds it names
See the evidenceCheck price on Amazon
Under-Sink Filter

Under-Sink Reverse-Osmosis System

  • PFOA: eligible, evidence match
Not suitable for (5)
  • Treating every tap in the home
  • A whole-home hard-water or scale problem
  • All PFAS: its evidence covers only the compounds it names
  • Anyone who can't plumb, drill or hire an installer
  • Renters who can't modify plumbing
See the evidenceCheck price on Amazon
Under-Sink Filter

Waterdrop G3P600 Tankless Reverse-Osmosis System

  • PFOA: eligible, evidence match
Not suitable for (5)
  • Treating every tap in the home
  • A whole-home hard-water or scale problem
  • All PFAS: its evidence covers only the compounds it names
  • Anyone who can't plumb, drill or hire an installer
  • Renters who can't modify plumbing
See the evidenceCheck price on Amazon
Refrigerator Filter

Whirlpool Filter 3 Refrigerator Water Filter (WHR3RXD1)

  • PFOA: eligible, evidence match
Not suitable for (3)
  • Treating every tap in the home
  • A whole-home hard-water or scale problem
  • All PFAS: its evidence covers only the compounds it names
See the evidenceCheck price on Amazon
Questions

Frequently asked questions

Is Owensboro tap water safe to drink?

PurityMap does not give a safe/unsafe verdict; it shows what the public records measured. For Owensboro, PFOA 5 ng/L was measured above the 4 ng/L federal limit in EPA's 2024 testing. OWENSBORO MUNICIPAL UTILITIES (PWSID KY0300336) has a Purity Score of 73/100 (confidence: moderate), assessed at the water-system level and computed only from contaminants that were measured. Water can change in your own pipes, so a certified test is the only way to know what comes out of your tap.

Who provides tap water in Owensboro?

OWENSBORO MUNICIPAL UTILITIES (PWS ID KY0300336) is the public water system on record for Owensboro, Kentucky, serving about 60,473 people. Confirm the utility on your water bill before acting on a specific finding.

Where does Owensboro get its drinking water?

Groundwater (primary source of record in EPA SDWIS).

Are PFAS "forever chemicals" in Owensboro's water?

Yes. In EPA's UCMR 5 testing (2023-03-14 to 2023-09-06), PFOA was measured at 5 ng/L against a 4 ng/L federal limit. Reverse osmosis and filters certified to NSF/ANSI 53 for PFOA/PFOS reduce them at the tap.

Is there lead in Owensboro's tap water?

Lead is not in Owensboro's current published record. Lead usually enters from a building's own pipes and fixtures, so a certified home test is the way to know yours.

What does the latest Owensboro water report show?

PurityMap's current record for Owensboro holds 31 findings: 1 above a reference and 30 not detected. Each finding links to its dated public record; a parameter that was never monitored is shown as pending, not as a pass.

Follow this water

Follow Owensboro's water

One email when a new sampling round is published, a result moves above or below its reference, or the system's score changes.

Double opt-in: we email a confirmation link. Unsubscribe anytime. No spam.

Sources and dataAll 31 records and their sourcesEPA UCMR 5 · EPA SDWIS (Lead & Copper Rule)
ContaminantResultBenchmarkSampledSource
Perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA)5 ng/L4.0 ng/L federal MCL (2024)2023-03-14 to 2023-09-06UCMR5 Analytical Results: OWENSBORO MUNICIPAL UTILITIES (KY0300336)
30 other contaminants tested — none detected
ContaminantResultBenchmarkSampledSource
11-Chloroeicosafluoro-3-oxaundecane-1-sulfonic acid (11Cl-PF3OUdS)< 5 ng/LNo federal or state limit; shown for transparency2023-03-14 to 2023-09-06UCMR5 Analytical Results: OWENSBORO MUNICIPAL UTILITIES (KY0300336)
1H, 1H, 2H, 2H-perfluorodecane sulfonic acid (8:2 FTS)< 5 ng/LNo federal or state limit; shown for transparency2023-03-14 to 2023-09-06UCMR5 Analytical Results: OWENSBORO MUNICIPAL UTILITIES (KY0300336)
1H, 1H, 2H, 2H-perfluorohexane sulfonic acid (4:2 FTS)< 3 ng/LNo federal or state limit; shown for transparency2023-03-14 to 2023-09-06UCMR5 Analytical Results: OWENSBORO MUNICIPAL UTILITIES (KY0300336)
1H, 1H, 2H, 2H-perfluorooctane sulfonic acid (6:2 FTS)< 5 ng/LNo federal or state limit; shown for transparency2023-03-14 to 2023-09-06UCMR5 Analytical Results: OWENSBORO MUNICIPAL UTILITIES (KY0300336)
4,8-Dioxa-3H-perfluorononanoic acid (ADONA)< 3 ng/LNo federal or state limit; shown for transparency2023-03-14 to 2023-09-06UCMR5 Analytical Results: OWENSBORO MUNICIPAL UTILITIES (KY0300336)
9-Chlorohexadecafluoro-3-oxanone-1-sulfonic acid (9Cl-PF3ONS)< 2 ng/LNo federal or state limit; shown for transparency2023-03-14 to 2023-09-06UCMR5 Analytical Results: OWENSBORO MUNICIPAL UTILITIES (KY0300336)
Hexafluoropropylene oxide dimer acid (HFPO-DA) (GenX chemicals)< 5 ng/L10 ng/L federal MCL (2024)2023-03-14 to 2023-09-06UCMR5 Analytical Results: OWENSBORO MUNICIPAL UTILITIES (KY0300336)
Lead (90th percentile)Non-Detect (ND)15 µg/L federal action level2021–2023 monitoring periodLead & Copper Rule 90th-percentile: OWENSBORO MUNICIPAL UTILITIES (KY0300336)
Lithium< 9 µg/L10 µg/L EPA health reference level (screening, not a legal limit)Screening level, not a legal limit2023-03-14 to 2023-09-06UCMR5 Analytical Results: OWENSBORO MUNICIPAL UTILITIES (KY0300336)
N-ethyl perfluorooctanesulfonamidoacetic acid (NEtFOSAA)< 5 ng/LNo federal or state limit; shown for transparency2023-06-07 to 2023-09-06UCMR5 Analytical Results: OWENSBORO MUNICIPAL UTILITIES (KY0300336)
N-methyl perfluorooctanesulfonamidoacetic acid (NMeFOSAA)< 6 ng/LNo federal or state limit; shown for transparency2023-06-07 to 2023-09-06UCMR5 Analytical Results: OWENSBORO MUNICIPAL UTILITIES (KY0300336)
Nonafluoro-3,6-dioxaheptanoic acid (NFDHA)< 20 ng/LNo federal or state limit; shown for transparency2023-03-14 to 2023-09-06UCMR5 Analytical Results: OWENSBORO MUNICIPAL UTILITIES (KY0300336)
Perfluoro (2-ethoxyethane) sulfonic acid (PFEESA)< 3 ng/LNo federal or state limit; shown for transparency2023-03-14 to 2023-09-06UCMR5 Analytical Results: OWENSBORO MUNICIPAL UTILITIES (KY0300336)
Perfluoro-3-methoxypropanoic acid (PFMPA)< 4 ng/LNo federal or state limit; shown for transparency2023-03-14 to 2023-09-06UCMR5 Analytical Results: OWENSBORO MUNICIPAL UTILITIES (KY0300336)
Perfluoro-4-methoxybutanoic acid (PFMBA)< 3 ng/LNo federal or state limit; shown for transparency2023-03-14 to 2023-09-06UCMR5 Analytical Results: OWENSBORO MUNICIPAL UTILITIES (KY0300336)
Perfluorobutanesulfonic acid (PFBS)< 3 ng/L2,000 ng/L EPA health advisory (screening, not a legal limit)Screening level, not a legal limit2023-03-14 to 2023-09-06UCMR5 Analytical Results: OWENSBORO MUNICIPAL UTILITIES (KY0300336)
Perfluorobutanoic acid (PFBA)< 5 ng/LNo federal or state limit; shown for transparency2023-03-14 to 2023-09-06UCMR5 Analytical Results: OWENSBORO MUNICIPAL UTILITIES (KY0300336)
Perfluorodecanoic acid (PFDA)< 3 ng/LNo federal or state limit; shown for transparency2023-03-14 to 2023-09-06UCMR5 Analytical Results: OWENSBORO MUNICIPAL UTILITIES (KY0300336)
Perfluorododecanoic acid (PFDoA)< 3 ng/LNo federal or state limit; shown for transparency2023-03-14 to 2023-09-06UCMR5 Analytical Results: OWENSBORO MUNICIPAL UTILITIES (KY0300336)
Perfluoroheptanesulfonic acid (PFHpS)< 3 ng/LNo federal or state limit; shown for transparency2023-03-14 to 2023-09-06UCMR5 Analytical Results: OWENSBORO MUNICIPAL UTILITIES (KY0300336)
Perfluoroheptanoic acid (PFHpA)< 3 ng/LNo federal or state limit; shown for transparency2023-03-14 to 2023-09-06UCMR5 Analytical Results: OWENSBORO MUNICIPAL UTILITIES (KY0300336)
Perfluorohexanesulfonic acid (PFHxS)< 3 ng/L10 ng/L federal MCL (2024)2023-03-14 to 2023-09-06UCMR5 Analytical Results: OWENSBORO MUNICIPAL UTILITIES (KY0300336)
Perfluorohexanoic acid (PFHxA)< 3 ng/L400,000 ng/L Michigan EGLE state MCL (strictest US state)2023-03-14 to 2023-09-06UCMR5 Analytical Results: OWENSBORO MUNICIPAL UTILITIES (KY0300336)
Perfluorononanoic acid (PFNA)< 4 ng/L10 ng/L federal MCL (2024)2023-03-14 to 2023-09-06UCMR5 Analytical Results: OWENSBORO MUNICIPAL UTILITIES (KY0300336)
Perfluorooctanesulfonic acid (PFOS)< 4 ng/L4.0 ng/L federal MCL (2024)2023-03-14 to 2023-09-06UCMR5 Analytical Results: OWENSBORO MUNICIPAL UTILITIES (KY0300336)
Perfluoropentanesulfonic acid (PFPeS)< 4 ng/LNo federal or state limit; shown for transparency2023-03-14 to 2023-09-06UCMR5 Analytical Results: OWENSBORO MUNICIPAL UTILITIES (KY0300336)
Perfluoropentanoic acid (PFPeA)< 3 ng/LNo federal or state limit; shown for transparency2023-03-14 to 2023-09-06UCMR5 Analytical Results: OWENSBORO MUNICIPAL UTILITIES (KY0300336)
Perfluorotetradecanoic acid (PFTA)< 8 ng/LNo federal or state limit; shown for transparency2023-06-07 to 2023-09-06UCMR5 Analytical Results: OWENSBORO MUNICIPAL UTILITIES (KY0300336)
Perfluorotridecanoic acid (PFTrDA)< 7 ng/LNo federal or state limit; shown for transparency2023-06-07 to 2023-09-06UCMR5 Analytical Results: OWENSBORO MUNICIPAL UTILITIES (KY0300336)
Perfluoroundecanoic acid (PFUnA)< 2 ng/LNo federal or state limit; shown for transparency2023-03-14 to 2023-09-06UCMR5 Analytical Results: OWENSBORO MUNICIPAL UTILITIES (KY0300336)

Perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA)

Result
5 ng/L
Benchmark
4.0 ng/L federal MCL (2024)
Sampled
2023-03-14 to 2023-09-06
30 other contaminants tested — none detected

11-Chloroeicosafluoro-3-oxaundecane-1-sulfonic acid (11Cl-PF3OUdS)

Result
< 5 ng/L
Benchmark
No federal or state limit; shown for transparency
Sampled
2023-03-14 to 2023-09-06

1H, 1H, 2H, 2H-perfluorodecane sulfonic acid (8:2 FTS)

Result
< 5 ng/L
Benchmark
No federal or state limit; shown for transparency
Sampled
2023-03-14 to 2023-09-06

1H, 1H, 2H, 2H-perfluorohexane sulfonic acid (4:2 FTS)

Result
< 3 ng/L
Benchmark
No federal or state limit; shown for transparency
Sampled
2023-03-14 to 2023-09-06

1H, 1H, 2H, 2H-perfluorooctane sulfonic acid (6:2 FTS)

Result
< 5 ng/L
Benchmark
No federal or state limit; shown for transparency
Sampled
2023-03-14 to 2023-09-06

4,8-Dioxa-3H-perfluorononanoic acid (ADONA)

Result
< 3 ng/L
Benchmark
No federal or state limit; shown for transparency
Sampled
2023-03-14 to 2023-09-06

9-Chlorohexadecafluoro-3-oxanone-1-sulfonic acid (9Cl-PF3ONS)

Result
< 2 ng/L
Benchmark
No federal or state limit; shown for transparency
Sampled
2023-03-14 to 2023-09-06

Hexafluoropropylene oxide dimer acid (HFPO-DA) (GenX chemicals)

Result
< 5 ng/L
Benchmark
10 ng/L federal MCL (2024)
Sampled
2023-03-14 to 2023-09-06

Lead (90th percentile)

Result
Non-Detect (ND)
Benchmark
15 µg/L federal action level
Sampled
2021–2023 monitoring period

Lithium

Result
< 9 µg/L
Benchmark
10 µg/L EPA health reference level (screening, not a legal limit)Screening level, not a legal limit
Sampled
2023-03-14 to 2023-09-06

N-ethyl perfluorooctanesulfonamidoacetic acid (NEtFOSAA)

Result
< 5 ng/L
Benchmark
No federal or state limit; shown for transparency
Sampled
2023-06-07 to 2023-09-06

N-methyl perfluorooctanesulfonamidoacetic acid (NMeFOSAA)

Result
< 6 ng/L
Benchmark
No federal or state limit; shown for transparency
Sampled
2023-06-07 to 2023-09-06

Nonafluoro-3,6-dioxaheptanoic acid (NFDHA)

Result
< 20 ng/L
Benchmark
No federal or state limit; shown for transparency
Sampled
2023-03-14 to 2023-09-06

Perfluoro (2-ethoxyethane) sulfonic acid (PFEESA)

Result
< 3 ng/L
Benchmark
No federal or state limit; shown for transparency
Sampled
2023-03-14 to 2023-09-06

Perfluoro-3-methoxypropanoic acid (PFMPA)

Result
< 4 ng/L
Benchmark
No federal or state limit; shown for transparency
Sampled
2023-03-14 to 2023-09-06

Perfluoro-4-methoxybutanoic acid (PFMBA)

Result
< 3 ng/L
Benchmark
No federal or state limit; shown for transparency
Sampled
2023-03-14 to 2023-09-06

Perfluorobutanesulfonic acid (PFBS)

Result
< 3 ng/L
Benchmark
2,000 ng/L EPA health advisory (screening, not a legal limit)Screening level, not a legal limit
Sampled
2023-03-14 to 2023-09-06

Perfluorobutanoic acid (PFBA)

Result
< 5 ng/L
Benchmark
No federal or state limit; shown for transparency
Sampled
2023-03-14 to 2023-09-06

Perfluorodecanoic acid (PFDA)

Result
< 3 ng/L
Benchmark
No federal or state limit; shown for transparency
Sampled
2023-03-14 to 2023-09-06

Perfluorododecanoic acid (PFDoA)

Result
< 3 ng/L
Benchmark
No federal or state limit; shown for transparency
Sampled
2023-03-14 to 2023-09-06

Perfluoroheptanesulfonic acid (PFHpS)

Result
< 3 ng/L
Benchmark
No federal or state limit; shown for transparency
Sampled
2023-03-14 to 2023-09-06

Perfluoroheptanoic acid (PFHpA)

Result
< 3 ng/L
Benchmark
No federal or state limit; shown for transparency
Sampled
2023-03-14 to 2023-09-06

Perfluorohexanesulfonic acid (PFHxS)

Result
< 3 ng/L
Benchmark
10 ng/L federal MCL (2024)
Sampled
2023-03-14 to 2023-09-06

Perfluorohexanoic acid (PFHxA)

Result
< 3 ng/L
Benchmark
400,000 ng/L Michigan EGLE state MCL (strictest US state)
Sampled
2023-03-14 to 2023-09-06

Perfluorononanoic acid (PFNA)

Result
< 4 ng/L
Benchmark
10 ng/L federal MCL (2024)
Sampled
2023-03-14 to 2023-09-06

Perfluorooctanesulfonic acid (PFOS)

Result
< 4 ng/L
Benchmark
4.0 ng/L federal MCL (2024)
Sampled
2023-03-14 to 2023-09-06

Perfluoropentanesulfonic acid (PFPeS)

Result
< 4 ng/L
Benchmark
No federal or state limit; shown for transparency
Sampled
2023-03-14 to 2023-09-06

Perfluoropentanoic acid (PFPeA)

Result
< 3 ng/L
Benchmark
No federal or state limit; shown for transparency
Sampled
2023-03-14 to 2023-09-06

Perfluorotetradecanoic acid (PFTA)

Result
< 8 ng/L
Benchmark
No federal or state limit; shown for transparency
Sampled
2023-06-07 to 2023-09-06

Perfluorotridecanoic acid (PFTrDA)

Result
< 7 ng/L
Benchmark
No federal or state limit; shown for transparency
Sampled
2023-06-07 to 2023-09-06

Perfluoroundecanoic acid (PFUnA)

Result
< 2 ng/L
Benchmark
No federal or state limit; shown for transparency
Sampled
2023-03-14 to 2023-09-06

Every value is the published result from the cited public record. A reporting limit is the lowest level the method could reliably quantify; a non-detect is not a guarantee of zero.

  • UCMR5 Analytical Results

    UCMR5 Analytical Results: OWENSBORO MUNICIPAL UTILITIES (KY0300336)

    US EPA

    Published
    2026-01-15
    Newest sample
    2023-09-06
    Findings here
    30

    View source ↗Source record

  • State SDWIS Compliance Record

    Lead & Copper Rule 90th-percentile: OWENSBORO MUNICIPAL UTILITIES (KY0300336)

    US EPA SDWIS

    Published
    2026-07-09
    Newest sample
    2023
    Findings here
    1

    View source ↗Source record

Methodology: how we analyze water. Prepared with AI assistance and reviewed by the PurityMap Editorial Team before publication.

Data & methodologyHow we analyze waterData integrity policy

Something off with your water's smell, color or taste?

Start with the hot-or-cold tap check. Where Owensboro Municipal Utilities reported something related, it's shown below.