Kentucky Water Quality Report 2026
Kentucky tap water is use filtration based on our analysis of 5 water systems serving 1,126,981 residents. The average PurityMap score is 76.6/100 (Grade: C), which is 1.3 points below the national average.
- PFAS detected in 1 of 5 cities (20%). Forever chemicals require reverse osmosis filtration.
- 1 cities have lead at or above 5 ppb. Homes built before 1986 are at highest risk.
- 4 cities (80%) have hard or very hard water (7+ GPG) which causes scale buildup and appliance damage.
- 5 cities use chloramine or have elevated chlorine residuals. Standard Brita pitchers do not remove chloramine.
We recommend an under-sink reverse osmosis system for drinking water in PFAS-affected areas of Kentucky. RO removes 99%+ of PFAS, lead, and other contaminants. For hard water cities, add a whole-house softener.
Hard
Kentucky is 1.3 points below the US average of 77.9/100. Hardness is 1.4 GPG above the US average of 6.3 GPG.
Cities ranked by lowest score. Click any city for the full report and filter recommendations.
| Rank | City | Score | Hardness | Lead | Key Issues |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Louisville | 64/100 | 8.5 GPG | 4.5 ppb | PFAS (2.2 ppt), Hard (8.5 GPG) |
| 2 | Lexington | 79/100 | 7.2 GPG | 3.5 ppb | Hard (7.2 GPG) |
| 3 | Owensboro | 79/100 | 8.0 GPG | 3.5 ppb | Hard (8.0 GPG) |
| 4 | Covington | 79/100 | 8.2 GPG | 5.0 ppb | Hard (8.2 GPG), Lead (5.0 ppb) |
| 5 | Bowling Green | 82/100 | 6.8 GPG | 2.8 ppb | Hardness 6.8 GPG, Lead 2.8 ppb, TDS 235 ppm |
How Kentucky's 5 cities score on the PurityMap 0–100 scale:
Water quality for the most populated cities. Click any city for details.
| City | Population | Score | Hardness | Key Issues |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Louisville | 633K | 64/100 | 8.5 GPG | PFAS, Hard |
| Lexington | 323K | 79/100 | 7.2 GPG | Hard |
| Bowling Green | 71K | 82/100 | 6.8 GPG | — |
| Owensboro | 60K | 79/100 | 8.0 GPG | Hard |
| Covington | 41K | 79/100 | 8.2 GPG | Hard, Lead |
4 of 5 cities (80%) in Kentucky have hard or very hard water (7+ GPG). Louisville has the hardest at 8.5 GPG. Cities: Louisville, Covington, Owensboro, Lexington. A water softener is recommended.
PFAS have been detected in 1 of 5 cities (20%) in Kentucky. Highest: Louisville at 2.2 ppt. Affected: Louisville. A reverse osmosis filter is recommended.
1 cities in Kentucky have lead at or above 5 ppb. Highest: Covington at 5.0 ppb. No safe level of lead exists. Cities: Covington.
Where Kentucky gets its drinking water, based on 5 water systems.
| Source Type | Cities | % of Total |
|---|---|---|
| Surface Water | 5 | 100% |
Kentucky has both PFAS (1 cities) and hard water (4 cities). RO for drinking water + softener for whole house.
| # | City | Pop. | Score | Hardness | Lead | PFAS | TDS |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Louisville | 633K | 64/100 | 8.5 GPG (Hard) | 4.5 ppb | ⚠️ Yes (2.2 ppt) | 295 ppm |
| 2 | Lexington | 323K | 79/100 | 7.2 GPG (Hard) | 3.5 ppb | ✅ No | 250 ppm |
| 3 | Owensboro | 60K | 79/100 | 8.0 GPG (Hard) | 3.5 ppb | ✅ No | 280 ppm |
| 4 | Covington | 41K | 79/100 | 8.2 GPG (Hard) | 5.0 ppb | ✅ No | 285 ppm |
| 5 | Bowling Green | 71K | 82/100 | 6.8 GPG (Moderate) | 2.8 ppb | ✅ No | 235 ppm |
Kentucky has 5 utilities. Major: Louisville Water Company, Kentucky American Water Lexington, Bowling Green Municipal Utilities, Owensboro Municipal Utilities, Northern Kentucky Water District.
Sources: Ohio River, Kentucky River, Barren River, Ohio River via NKWD.
- EPA Safe Drinking Water Information System
- EWG Tap Water Database
- State utility Consumer Confidence Reports
- USGS regional water monitoring data
PurityMap compiles publicly available data and does not perform independent testing.
5 city water quality reports available for Kentucky.
Covington Water Quality Report
Lexington Water Quality Report
Louisville Water Quality Report
Owensboro Water Quality Report
Compare water quality reports across all 50 US states