Water Service Outages in Kentucky by City
The most common health-based drinking water violation in Kentucky since 2015 involves contaminant averages over the limit; 195 of 373 systems have had at least one violation.
Kentucky drinking water record
Busiest year: 2016 (228 violations). Counted by the year the violation period began. Source: EPA SDWIS.
- Community water systems: 373 active systems serve about 5,054,146 people. 154 of them (41%) serve 3,300 people or fewer; 76 draw mainly on groundwater and 294 on surface water.
- Health-based violations since 2015: 1,054, at 195 systems (52% of all systems). That share is 44th of 50 states (1 = lowest).
- Most common problems: contaminant averages over the limit (924); single turbidity readings (24); coliform treatment technique (22). Source: EPA SDWIS
- Largest system: Louisville Water Company, about 806,997 people, with 0 health-based violations since 2015. Source: EPA SDWIS
- Housing age: the median Kentucky home was built in 1982 (US 1980). Source: US Census Bureau, ACS 2020–2024 (table B25035)
- Storm damage to water service: NOAA storm narratives mention water mains, boil water notices or lost water service in 9 episodes in Kentucky since 2015. Source: NOAA Storm Events Database
- October 24, 2025, Bourbon (frost/freeze): “The temperature dropped to 25 degrees at the Paris water treatment plant.” Source: NOAA Storm Events Database
- July 29, 2023, Russell (thunderstorm wind): “A tree was blown down by strong winds and fell across Half Acre Road near the Jamestown Waste Water Treatment plant.” Source: NOAA Storm Events Database
| System | People served | Main source | Health violations since 2015 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Louisville Water Company | 806,997 | Surface water | 0 |
| Kentucky-American Water Co | 669,042 | Surface water | 1 |
| Northern Kentucky Water District | 259,949 | Surface water | 0 |
| Warren County Water District | 91,118 | Bought surface water | 1 |
| Hardin County Water District #2 | 76,326 | Surface water | 1 |
| Boone Co Water & Sewer District | 66,300 | Bought surface water | 0 |
Source: EPA SDWIS.
Kentucky is 7th of 8 (1 = lowest share). Source: EPA SDWIS.
Checked September 2026.
Who to call in Kentucky, city by city
5 Kentucky cities on this site and the water utility for each. What to do while you wait is in our water service outage guide.
- Louisville Louisville Water Company
- Lexington Kentucky American Water
- Bowling Green Bowling Green Municipal Utilities
- Owensboro Owensboro Municipal Utilities
- Covington Northern Kentucky Water District
Frequently asked questions
Is there a water service outage in Kentucky right now?
Not on this site: no reports from Kentucky in the last 24 hours.
How many public water systems are in Kentucky?
EPA records list 373 active community water systems in Kentucky, serving about 5,054,146 people. 41% serve 3,300 people or fewer.
How common are drinking water violations in Kentucky?
Since 2015, 195 of 373 community water systems in Kentucky (52%) have had at least one health-based violation, 1,054 in total.
What is the largest water system in Kentucky?
Louisville Water Company, which EPA records list as serving about 806,997 people.
Report counts are user-submitted; other figures name their official source. How our data works
Cities in Kentucky with Water Service Outages Information
Bowling Green
no reports in the last 24 hours · pop. 72,810
Bowling Green Municipal Utilities
Covington
no reports in the last 24 hours · pop. 40,720
Northern Kentucky Water District
Lexington
no reports in the last 24 hours · pop. 323,152
Kentucky American Water
Louisville
no reports in the last 24 hours · pop. 628,594
Louisville Water Company
Owensboro
no reports in the last 24 hours · pop. 58,858
Owensboro Municipal Utilities