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Tap water quality report

Barbourville, KY

EPA monitoring detected 16 contaminants across the 2 water suppliers serving Barbourville. A detection doesn't automatically mean the water is unsafe — see the level at the main supplier for each below, with its EPA source and period.

2
water suppliers
24,733
people served
16
contaminants found
Kentucky rankings Lead in Kentucky PFAS in Kentucky

What was found in Barbourville's water

The level at the city's main supplier, the highest level anywhere in the city, the EPA limit for each, and where every figure comes from.

ContaminantLevel vs EPA limitSuppliersSource
Fluoride
1060 µg/L 27%
of the EPA limit 4000 µg/L
Main supplier: BARBOURVILLE UTILITIES · 16,420 people · 2019
Highest in the city: 1222 µg/L — KNOX COUNTY UTILITY COMMISSION · 8,313 people · 2019
2/2 SYR4
Nitrate
520 µg/L 5.2%
of the EPA limit 10000 µg/L
Main supplier: BARBOURVILLE UTILITIES · 16,420 people · 2019
2/2 SYR4
Copper
99.65 µg/L 7.7%
of the EPA limit 1300 µg/L
Main supplier: BARBOURVILLE UTILITIES · 16,420 people · 2019
Highest in the city: 495 µg/L — KNOX COUNTY UTILITY COMMISSION · 8,313 people · 2019
2/2 SYR4
Nitrate-Nitrite
420 µg/L 4.2%
of the EPA limit 10000 µg/L
Highest in the city: KNOX COUNTY UTILITY COMMISSION · 8,313 people · 2014
1/2 SYR4
TTHM
87 µg/L 109%
of the EPA limit, at the 95th percentile of samples — 80 µg/L
Main supplier: BARBOURVILLE UTILITIES · 16,420 people · 2019
2/2 SYR4
Total Haloacetic Acids (HAA5)
35 µg/L 58%
of the EPA limit 60 µg/L
Main supplier: BARBOURVILLE UTILITIES · 16,420 people · 2019
Highest in the city: 58 µg/L — KNOX COUNTY UTILITY COMMISSION · 8,313 people · 2019
2/2 SYR4
Barium
20.3 µg/L 1%
of the EPA limit 2000 µg/L
Main supplier: BARBOURVILLE UTILITIES · 16,420 people · 2019
Highest in the city: 30 µg/L — KNOX COUNTY UTILITY COMMISSION · 8,313 people · 2019
2/2 SYR4
Cyanide
30 µg/L 15%
of the EPA limit 200 µg/L
Highest in the city: KNOX COUNTY UTILITY COMMISSION · 8,313 people · 2019
1/2 SYR4
Lead
27.8 µg/L 185%
of the EPA limit, at the 95th percentile of samples — 15 µg/L
Main supplier: BARBOURVILLE UTILITIES · 16,420 people · 2018
2/2 SYR4
Lithium
14.3 µg/L
No EPA limit set
Highest in the city: KNOX COUNTY UTILITY COMMISSION · 8,313 people · 2025
1/2 UCMR-5
Arsenic
2.105 µg/L 21%
of the EPA limit 10 µg/L
Main supplier: BARBOURVILLE UTILITIES · 16,420 people · 2019
1/2 SYR4
Combined Radium (-226 And -228)
1.5 pCi/L 30%
of the EPA limit 5 pCi/L
Main supplier: BARBOURVILLE UTILITIES · 16,420 people · 2014
1/2 SYR4
Di(2-ethylhexyl) Phthalate
1 µg/L 17%
of the EPA limit 6 µg/L
Main supplier: BARBOURVILLE UTILITIES · 16,420 people · 2017
1/2 SYR4
Mercury
0.3000 µg/L 15%
of the EPA limit 2 µg/L
Main supplier: BARBOURVILLE UTILITIES · 16,420 people · 2019
2/2 SYR4
Pfhxa
0.0036 µg/L
No EPA limit set
Main supplier: BARBOURVILLE UTILITIES · 16,420 people · 2025
1/2 UCMR-5
Lead
0.0 mg/L 0%
of the EPA limit 0.0150 mg/L
Main supplier: BARBOURVILLE UTILITIES · 16,420 people · 2024
2/2 LCR
Each bar shows the measured level as a share of the EPA limit: green is well under, amber is close to it, red is over. For lead and copper the limit applies to exactly the 90th-percentile figure shown, so red there means a real exceedance. For everything else the limit applies to a running annual average while the figure is the 95th percentile of the system's samples — over 100% is worth reading, but is not by itself a violation. Formal violations are listed separately. These are the utilities' own EPA-reported results, not a city-wide average. A detection means the lab measured the substance — it isn't the same as exceeding a legal limit. Hover a source tag to see the EPA program and years behind each figure.

Water suppliers serving Barbourville

SupplierPopulation served
BARBOURVILLE UTILITIES 16,420
KNOX COUNTY UTILITY COMMISSION 8,313

Frequently asked questions about Barbourville tap water

Is Barbourville tap water safe to drink?

EPA testing detected 16 contaminants in the water serving Barbourville. A detection isn't the same as a violation — most detected levels are within federal limits. Check the level and source for each contaminant above, and your utility's annual Consumer Confidence Report for the official compliance status.

How many water suppliers serve Barbourville?

2 public water suppliers report drinking-water monitoring for Barbourville, Kentucky to the EPA. Each is listed above with its population served.

What contaminants are in Barbourville's water?

The contaminants EPA monitoring detected in Barbourville include Fluoride, Nitrate, Copper, Nitrate-Nitrite, TTHM. The full list, with the level at the main supplier and the data source, is in the table above.

Where does this data come from?

Every figure is official EPA drinking-water monitoring — the Lead & Copper Rule, the UCMR-5 nationwide testing program, and the EPA Six-Year Review — not our own testing. Each number is labelled with its source and period.