Ask for EPA Method 533 or 537.1
These are the methods behind the federal results. Ask which compounds are on the panel, so PFOA is included, and keep the reporting limit with your result.
Find a certified lab in Kentucky ↗ (opens in a new tab)North Shelby District, KY · PFAS · forever chemicals
Is There PFAS in North Shelby District Tap Water?
One PFAS had a sample above a 2024 EPA limit.PFOA 4.1 ng/L was measured in North Shelby District water in 2025–2026 in one EPA sample, above the 4 ng/L limit EPA set in 2024. That limit is judged on a yearly average, and water systems have until 2029 to meet it, so a single sample is not a violation.
- NORTH SHELBY WATER DISTRICT · PWSID KY1060324
- Purity Score 78 · Good
- Confidence: moderate
The measurements · EPA UCMR 5EPA has proposed rescinding the PFHxS, PFNA, GenX and Hazard Index limits; they apply until a final rule. Bars run to 2× each limit; the dashed line is the limit. ND = below the lab’s reporting limit, not zero. “Not on record” = the record carries no result for it.
Every PFAS with a federal limit, for this system- PFOAlimit 4 ng/L4.1 ng/LAbove EPA's 2024 limit (one sample)
- PFOSlimit 4 ng/LNDNot detected
- PFHxSlimit 10 ng/Llimit under EPA reviewNDNot detected
- PFNAlimit 10 ng/Llimit under EPA reviewNDNot detected
- HFPO-DA (GenX)limit 10 ng/Llimit under EPA reviewNDNot detected
- Hazard indexlimit 1 (mixture)limit under EPA reviewNot on recordNot on record
How North Shelby District compares3,396 more were below the lab’s 4 ng/L reporting limit and aren’t plotted, and 34 have no result on record. 66 cities above 25 ng/L are grouped in the last bar. A position here is not a verdict on the water.
PFOS across 764 cities with a detected value4 ng/L MCL
Not on the chart: North Shelby District’s PFOS result was below the lab’s reporting limit, so it can’t be placed among the cities that detected it.
In Kentucky, 12 of 83 city reports had a PFAS sample above a 2024 EPA limit. PFAS across Kentucky →
City water and your tap
PFAS come with the water, not from your pipes.
Your tap usually reflects the system’s water, but results vary between samples and sources. Only a certified lab test tells you what reaches your glass today.
How to test for PFAS- Source waterWhere PFAS enter
- North Shelby District treatmentIn the record
- DistributionLittle change
- Building plumbingDoesn’t add PFAS
- Your tapLab test confirms
In order of priority
What can you do about PFAS?
- Read what was tested29 compounds were measured. Check whether the compounds you care about are on the list.What this record covers →Test your tapA certified lab using EPA Method 533 or 537.1 gives a number for your glass.PFAS testing →
- Reduce if it’s a concernChoose a filter whose certification names the compound your test found.Treatment options →Follow new resultsPFAS limits and sampling are changing. Get one email when North Shelby District’s record does.Follow North Shelby District →
What this record covers
- NORTH SHELBY WATER DISTRICT’s water system as a whole, as reported to EPA UCMR 5.
- 29 PFAS compounds, each with its own result.
- Samples taken 2025-06-25 to 2026-03-17.
What is unknown
- The water at your tap today.
- PFAS not listed in the 29 above were not reported in these records.
- Levels since the last sample have not been published.
Test your own tap
PFAS testing needs a lab
PFAS are measured in parts per trillion. Home strips can’t read that low, so a certified lab is the only way to get a number for your tap.
Why we don’t list a PFAS test strip
No home strip has been shown to detect PFAS at the levels federal limits use. A mail-in lab kit is the closest at-home option; check that its lab is accredited and that its panel names the compounds you need.
Read your lab results →Commercial · treatment for the PFAS found
Treatment options for PFOA in North Shelby District
We may earn a commissionPurityMap earns a commission from these links. "Best choice" and "Budget pick" go to certified products first; commission never decides them. A product that is not independently certified carries a plain “Brand lab-tested, not independently certified” label. As an Amazon Associate, PurityMap earns from qualifying purchases. Affiliate disclosure- PFOA
- Source-water pathway
- RO · carbon · anion exchange
- Listing names the compound
- Product
- Product
- Compounds
- PFOA 4.1 ng/L
- Benchmark
- Federal MCL · 4 ng/L
- Regulated PFAS
- 1 of 5 detected
- Household concern
- Depends on a tap test
Matching technologyReverse osmosis, activated carbon or anion exchange
Why: these are the technologies certified to reduce PFAS. Certification is compound by compound, so check that a listing names the compound you need to reduce.
- NSF/ANSI 53 or 58 naming the compound; RO systems often carry it under 53
- Listing-specific · anion exchange
★ Best choice: Aquasana Claryum 2-Stage Under-Sink Filter (AQ-5200), certified for PFOA and lead.
| Pick | Product | Details and price | Certification | Why it’s listed | Link |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| ★ Best choice | Under-sinkAquasana Claryum 2-Stage Under-Sink Filter (AQ-5200) | TreatsPFOA and leadPrice$$ | Certified for PFOA (NSF/ANSI 53, WQA) | Why it’s listed: its current certification names PFOA, found in North Shelby District’s record.See the evidence | Check price on Amazon |
| Also good | Under-sinkAquasana Claryum 3-Stage Max Flow Under-Sink Filter (AQ-6300M) | TreatsPFOA and leadPrice$$ | Certified for PFOA (NSF/ANSI 53, WQA) | Why it’s listed: its current certification names PFOA, found in North Shelby District’s record.See the evidence | Check price at Aquasana |
| Also good | CountertopAquasana Clean Water Machine Countertop Filter (AQ-CWM2) | TreatsPFOA and leadPrice$$ | Certified for PFOA (NSF/ANSI 53, WQA) | Why it’s listed: its current certification names PFOA, found in North Shelby District’s record.See the evidence | Check price at Aquasana |
See all 12 drinking-water options for PFAS
| Pick | Product | Details and price | Certification | Why it’s listed | Link |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Also good | Reverse osmosisSmartFlow® Reverse Osmosis | TreatsPFOA and leadTechnologyReverse osmosisPrice$$$ | Certified for PFOA (NSF/ANSI 53 (includes P473), WQA) | Why it’s listed: its current certification names PFOA, found in North Shelby District’s record.See the evidence | Check price at Aquasana |
| Also good | Under-sinkWaterdrop G3P600 Tankless Reverse-Osmosis System | TreatsPFOA and leadPrice$$$ | Certified for PFOA (NSF/ANSI 53, IAPMO) | Why it’s listed: its current certification names PFOA, found in North Shelby District’s record.See the evidence | Check price at Waterdrop |
| Also good | Under-sinkWaterdrop G3P800 Tankless Reverse-Osmosis System | TreatsPFOA and leadPrice$$$ | Certified for PFOA (NSF/ANSI 53, IAPMO) | Why it’s listed: its current certification names PFOA, found in North Shelby District’s record.See the evidence | Check price at Waterdrop |
| Also good | CountertopAquaTru Carafe Countertop Reverse-Osmosis Purifier (AT100) | TreatsPFOA and leadPrice$$$ | Certified for PFOA (NSF/ANSI 53, IAPMO) | Why it’s listed: its current certification names PFOA, found in North Shelby District’s record.See the evidence | Check price on Amazon |
| Also good | CountertopAquaTru Classic Countertop Reverse-Osmosis Purifier (AT2000) | TreatsPFOA and leadPrice$$$ | Certified for PFOA (NSF/ANSI 53, IAPMO) | Why it’s listed: its current certification names PFOA, found in North Shelby District’s record.See the evidence | Check price on Amazon |
| Also good | CountertopPatriot Pure Ultimate Water Filtration System | TreatsPFOA and leadPrice$$ | Certified for PFOA (NSF/ANSI 53, NSF, IAPMO) | Why it’s listed: its current certification names PFOA, found in North Shelby District’s record.See the evidence | Check price on Amazon |
| Also good | Reverse osmosisiSpring RCC7AK Alkaline Reverse Osmosis SystemUse code REFISPRING at checkout: 10% off your first iSpring order. | TechnologyReverse osmosisPrice$$ | Brand lab-tested for PFAS, not independently certified for PFOA | See the evidence | Check price at iSpring |
| Also good | Reverse osmosisiSpring RO5004F Tankless Reverse Osmosis System with UVUse code REFISPRING at checkout: 10% off your first iSpring order. | TechnologyReverse osmosisPrice$$$ | Brand lab-tested for PFAS, not independently certified for PFOA | See the evidence | Check price at iSpring |
| Also good | Reverse osmosisWaterdrop X12 Reverse Osmosis System | TechnologyReverse osmosisPrice$$$$ | Brand lab-tested for PFAS, not independently certified for PFOA | See the evidence | Check price at Waterdrop |
★ Best choice: HealthShield™, certified for PFOA.
| Pick | Product | Details and price | Certification | Why it’s listed | Link |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| ★ Best choice | Whole-houseHealthShield™ | TreatsPFOAPrice$$$$ | Certified for PFOA (NSF/ANSI 53, WQA) | Why it’s listed: its current certification names PFOA, found in North Shelby District’s record.See the evidence | Check price at Aquasana |
| $ Budget pick | Whole-houseiSpring WGB32B-PFKS PFAS & Heavy Metals Whole House FilterUse code REFISPRING at checkout: 10% off your first iSpring order. | Price$$$ | Brand lab-tested for PFAS, not independently certified for PFOA | See the evidence | Check price at iSpring |
Also: lead picks →
PurityMap earns a commission from these links. "Best choice" and "Budget pick" go to certified products first; commission never decides them. As an Amazon Associate, PurityMap earns from qualifying purchases. Affiliate disclosure.
Don’t misread thisA system result is not your tap result, and ND is not zero
These results describe NORTH SHELBY WATER DISTRICT’s water system, not the water in your glass. Compliance with the 2024 limits is judged on a running annual average, with a compliance date of 2029 (EPA has proposed allowing until 2031 for PFOA and PFOS). The 28 compounds not detected were below the lab’s reporting limit, which is not the same as zero. And 29 compounds were tested; PFAS not on that list have no result here.
Want a number for your tap?Test for PFAS →
Results as a table29 results with limit, status, sample date and source
Questions
PFAS in North Shelby District, answered
Sources used for this analysis2 sources
UCMR5 Analytical Results: NORTH SHELBY WATER DISTRICT (KY1060324)View ↗ UCMR5 Analytical Results: NORTH SHELBY WATER DISTRICT (KY1060324) (opens in a new tab)
- Publisher: US EPA
- Record: UCMR5 Analytical Results
- Date: 2026-10-15
- Measurement: PFOA 4.1 ng/L
- Benchmark: 2024 federal MCLs
Lead & Copper Rule 90th-percentile: NORTH SHELBY WATER DISTRICT (KY1060324)View ↗ Lead & Copper Rule 90th-percentile: NORTH SHELBY WATER DISTRICT (KY1060324) (opens in a new tab)
- Publisher: US EPA SDWIS
- Record: State SDWIS Compliance Record
- Date: 2026-10-13
- Measurement: not on record
- Benchmark: not on record
Is there PFAS in North Shelby District tap water?
One PFAS had a sample above a 2024 EPA limit. In EPA UCMR 5 testing of NORTH SHELBY WATER DISTRICT (2025-06-25 to 2026-03-17): PFOA 4.1 ng/L (limit 4) and the other 28 PFAS tested not detected. "Not detected" means below the lab's reporting limit, not proven zero.
What are the federal PFAS limits?
EPA's 2024 drinking-water rule set maximum contaminant levels of 4.0 ng/L for PFOA and for PFOS, and 10 ng/L for PFHxS, PFNA and HFPO-DA (GenX). In May 2026 EPA proposed keeping the PFOA and PFOS limits, with the option of until 2031 to comply, and rescinding the other three. Until a final rule, all five limits apply. The 2024 rule also set a Hazard Index of 1 for mixtures of two or more of PFHxS, PFNA, GenX and PFBS; EPA has proposed rescinding it, and it applies until a final rule.
Does "not detected" mean zero PFAS?
No. "Not detected" (ND) means the result was below the lab's reporting limit, not that the compound is absent. In North Shelby District's record, 28 of the 29 PFAS tested were not detected. Their reporting limits run from 2 to 20 ng/L.
Which PFAS were tested in North Shelby District?
29 PFAS compounds in EPA UCMR 5 testing of NORTH SHELBY WATER DISTRICT (2025-06-25 to 2026-03-17), including the five with federal limits. PFOA was detected. PFAS not on that list have no result here.
Can my tap have different PFAS levels than the city report?
Yes. These results describe the water system as a whole, and levels vary between samples and sources over time. PFAS come with the water rather than from home plumbing, so your tap usually reflects the system's water, but only a certified lab test of your own tap gives a number for your glass.
How do I test my tap for PFAS?
Use a state-certified lab that runs EPA Method 533 or 537.1, the methods behind the federal results. Ask which compounds are on the panel, so PFOA is included, and keep the reporting limit with your result. No home test strip has been shown to detect PFAS at the levels federal limits use.
What filter removes PFAS from North Shelby District water?
Reverse osmosis, activated carbon and anion exchange can reduce PFAS, but certification is compound by compound. Look for NSF/ANSI 53 or 58 naming the compound; RO systems often carry it under 53. Choose a model whose current listing names the compound you need to reduce, here PFOA, check it in the certifier's listing (NSF, WQA or IAPMO), and replace cartridges on schedule.
Is there a filter certified for PFOA?
Look for PFOA by name in the certifier's listing (NSF, WQA or IAPMO) for the exact model: NSF/ANSI 53 and 58 listings name each PFAS a filter was tested to reduce.
When must North Shelby District meet the PFAS limits?
Compliance with the 2024 limits is judged on a running annual average, with a compliance date of 2029 (EPA has proposed allowing until 2031 for PFOA and PFOS). EPA has proposed rescinding the PFHxS, PFNA, GenX and Hazard Index limits; they apply until a final rule.