Is Paris Water Works water safe to drink?

Paris Water Works (PWS ID: KY0090343) has 730 recorded violations in the EPA SDWIS database. PFAS contamination has been detected in UCMR5 testing, with 4 PFAS compounds found. EPA SDWIS lists this system's service population as 14,139 people using Surface Water sources.

How many people does Paris Water Works serve?

EPA SDWIS reports that Paris Water Works serves 14,139 people (this public water system's service population, not the municipal population of Paris or any other city). It is a Local-owned system using Surface Water water sources with 5,126 service connections. The operator address is listed in Paris, Kentucky.

What type of violations does Paris Water Works have?

Paris Water Works has 730 total violations: 155 health-based violations (MCL exceedances or treatment failures), 563 monitoring/reporting violations, and 50 treatment technique violations. Health-based violations indicate contaminant levels exceeded EPA safe limits.

Has PFAS been detected in Paris Water Works water?

Yes. UCMR5 testing detected 4 PFAS compounds in Paris Water Works's water supply: PFPeA, PFBS, PFHxA, PFBA. PFAS are persistent "forever chemicals" that do not break down in the environment.

What water source does Paris Water Works use?

Paris Water Works uses Surface Water as its primary water source. It is classified as a Community Water System (CWS), serving residential populations year-round.

Where does this data come from?

All data comes from the EPA Safe Drinking Water Information System (SDWIS) and the UCMR5 PFAS monitoring program. SDWIS tracks compliance for all public water systems regulated under the Safe Drinking Water Act.

Where does Paris Water Works sit among U.S. public water systems?

According to EPA SDWIS population_served among sitemap-advertised systems (serving 500+), Paris Water Works ranks #3,632 of 29,740 by people served, and #78 of 352 in Kentucky. Ordinals use population_served DESC among systems serving 500+ (the sitemap cohort). See /methodology#corpus-placement.

How does Paris Water Works's violation count compare nationally?

Paris Water Works has 730 recorded EPA SDWIS violations, fewer than 2% of the 29,740 public water systems serving 500 or more people nationwide (the same sitemap cohort used for the corpus-placement ranking above). 98% of that cohort has fewer violations than Paris Water Works. A system can have zero recorded violations and still be actively monitored, and a high violation count often reflects a system that reports thoroughly, not necessarily one with worse water.

States → Kentucky

Community Water System · PWS KY0090343

Paris Water Works

Operator location Paris, Kentucky - larger served population (> 3,309) at 14,139 people served; 730 SDWIS violations on record from surface water sources.

Compiled by PlainWater · May 15, 2026

14,139
People served (this PWS) Larger third of systems: 730
EPA violations (this PWS) Upper third of systems: 155
Health-based (this PWS) Middle third by health-based share: 4 PFAS
UCMR5 (this PWS) Middle third of PFAS-detected systems

Follow published updates (RSS)

Paris Water Works standing, high SDWIS violation third

14,139 people served (SDWIS) - larger served population (> 3,309). Corpus terciles use 29,740 systems serving 500+ (the sitemap cohort). Health-based share 21% is middle-third health share (≤ 23%). UCMR5: middle-third PFAS panel (≤ 4 compounds). Population rank #3,632 of 29,740 among systems serving 500+.

The verdict

Paris Water Works sits in the upper third of the sitemap cohort by violation count (730), so the tables below sample a dense compliance trail rather than a near-clean ledger. Population served is large (14,139; larger served population (> 3,309)), so household exposure scale sits behind the violation mix. Health-based share is 21% (middle-third health share (≤ 23%)). UCMR5 detected 4 PFAS compounds (middle-third PFAS panel (≤ 4 compounds)).

#3,632 of 29,740
Population · /systems: #78 of 352
Population · KY: 730
Total EPA violations on record: 21%
Health-based (MCL / treatment failure)

Population ordinals match the sitemap cohort (systems serving 500+, population_served DESC). See methodology · corpus placement.

PFAS Detected

4 PFAS "forever chemicals" detected in testing under EPA's UCMR5 monitoring program.

Water Safety Score

20/100

Paris Water Works

Based on EPA SDWIS violation history and UCMR5 PFAS testing only, not water taste, odor, infrastructure age, or contaminants outside the federally tracked set.

Health-based violations F

155

EPA SDWIS health-based violations on record (MCL, MRDL, treatment technique)

Monitoring & reporting violations F

575

Non-health SDWIS violations (monitoring, reporting, and other compliance)

PFAS contamination B-

0.0063 µg/L

Highest PFAS compound level detected in UCMR5 testing

System Details

System Type: Community
Owner Type: Local
Connections: 5,126
County: Bourbon
School/Daycare: No
MCL Violations: 105
Monitoring Violations: 563
Treatment Tech Violations: 50

Violation History

Contaminant violations recorded by EPA.

Contaminant	Category	Count	Latest
Total Haloacetic Acids (HAA5)	MCL	80	2020
CARBON, TOTAL	TT	32	2015
Revised Total Coliform Rule	MON	25	2016
Interim Enhanced Surface Water Treatment Rule	TT	18	2025
1,2,4-Trichlorobenzene	MR	15	2009
Xylenes, Total	MR	15	2009
DICHLOROMETHANE	MR	15	2009
o-Dichlorobenzene	MR	15	2009
p-Dichlorobenzene	MR	15	2009
Vinyl chloride	MR	15	2009
1,1-Dichloroethylene	MR	15	2009
1,2-Dichloroethane	MR	15	2009
1,1,1-Trichloroethane	MR	15	2009
Carbon tetrachloride	MR	15	2009
Trichloroethylene	MR	15	2009
1,1,2-Trichloroethane	MR	15	2009
CHLOROBENZENE	MR	15	2009
Benzene	MR	15	2009
cis-1,2-Dichloroethylene	MR	15	2009
Ethylbenzene	MR	15	2009
Styrene	MR	15	2009
trans-1,2-Dichloroethylene	MR	15	2009
1,2-Dichloropropane	MR	15	2009
Tetrachloroethylene	MR	15	2009
Toluene	MR	15	2009
Thallium, Total	MR	12	1996
TTHM	MCL	9	1993
Nitrate	MR	9	1997
Total Haloacetic Acids (HAA5)	MR	9	2019
Atrazine	MR	8	2005

Violation Count vs. the National Corpus

Paris Water Works has 730 recorded EPA violations, 98% of the 29,740 public water systems serving 500+ people nationwide carry fewer, and 2% carry more. 21% of this system's own violations are health-based (155 of 730), and it ranks #3,632 of 29,740 by population served among that same cohort.

EPA violations vs. the national water-system corpus

Public water systems serving 500+ people (EPA SDWIS)

730 Higher than most more violations than 98% of 29,740 water systems

the national water-system corpus, bucketed by value

Each bar is a band; taller bars hold more water systems. The dashed line + filled bar mark this entry. Hover or tap any bar for its full count and share, and where it sits relative to this entry.

Source EPA SDWIS · 2026-05-15

How many violations vs. how serious, among peer systems

Paris Water Works plotted against 29 peer public water systems (500+ people served), by total violation count (x) and the share of those violations that are health-based (y). The crosshair sits at this sample's own median on each axis. A high violation count does not automatically mean a serious record: most monitoring and reporting violations are minor, not health-based.

30 public water systems (500+ people served), EPA SDWIS current release.

How to read this

Each dot is one public water system; the highlighted dot is Paris Water Works. A system to the right has more recorded violations; a system higher up has a larger share of those violations classified health-based rather than monitoring or reporting.

Rare but serious: few violations, but most of them are health-based.
Frequent, mostly paperwork: many violations, but mostly monitoring or reporting, not health-based.
Clean record: below-median on both counts, the tinted corner.

View all 30 systems as a list

City of Ballinger: 372 violations, 85% health-based
Nooksack Valley Water Association: 16 violations, 31% health-based
Montgomery Co RWD 12: 7 violations, 29% health-based
Irvin Water District #6: 11 violations, 27% health-based
Ticonderoga WD: 47 violations, 26% health-based
Pine Valley Plantation: 37 violations, 24% health-based
Paris Water Works: 730 violations, 21% health-based (this system)
McLouth, City Of: 29 violations, 17% health-based
Kipling Oaks 1: 25 violations, 16% health-based
South Deerfield Water Supply District: 96 violations, 16% health-based
Sunset Ridge Water District: 82 violations, 15% health-based
Orange Water Dept: 136 violations, 14% health-based
Mount Pleasant Water Sys #1: 167 violations, 11% health-based
Lake Gibson Estates: 42 violations, 2% health-based
Benson Culinary Improvement District: 212 violations, 1% health-based
Conemaugh Twp Muni Auth: 567 violations, 1% health-based
Miccosukee Service Plaza: 0 violations, 0% health-based
Brazoria - Fort Bend Counties MUD 3: 0 violations, 0% health-based
Tanglewilde Thompson Place 600: 2 violations, 0% health-based
Center Water Co: 5 violations, 0% health-based
Spring Mills Elem School/Hvs: 9 violations, 0% health-based
Great Bend Industrial Park: 14 violations, 0% health-based
Glen Park Village: 19 violations, 0% health-based
Camp Is-Sho-Da: 22 violations, 0% health-based
Hamilton: 33 violations, 0% health-based
Town of Welaka: 54 violations, 0% health-based
Township of Blairstown Dpw: 61 violations, 0% health-based
McIntosh Water & Fire Pro Authority: 71 violations, 0% health-based
Clarkdale Municipal Water System: 114 violations, 0% health-based
Eureka Water Association: 273 violations, 0% health-based

PFAS Testing Results (UCMR5)

Results from EPA's Fifth Unregulated Contaminant Monitoring Rule. 4 of 116 samples detected PFAS.

Contaminant	Date	Result	MRL	Status
PFHxA	7/26/2023	<3.00 ppt	3.00 ppt	Not Detected
PFBA	7/26/2023	<5.00 ppt	5.00 ppt	Not Detected
4:2 FTS	7/26/2023	<3.00 ppt	3.00 ppt	Not Detected
8:2 FTS	7/26/2023	<5.00 ppt	5.00 ppt	Not Detected
PFDoA	7/26/2023	<3.00 ppt	3.00 ppt	Not Detected
PFMPA	7/26/2023	<4.00 ppt	4.00 ppt	Not Detected
6:2 FTS	7/26/2023	<5.00 ppt	5.00 ppt	Not Detected
PFPeA	7/26/2023	<3.00 ppt	3.00 ppt	Not Detected
PFOA	7/26/2023	<4.00 ppt	4.00 ppt	Not Detected
PFEESA	7/26/2023	<3.00 ppt	3.00 ppt	Not Detected
PFHpS	7/26/2023	<3.00 ppt	3.00 ppt	Not Detected
HFPO-DA	7/26/2023	<5.00 ppt	5.00 ppt	Not Detected
ADONA	7/26/2023	<3.00 ppt	3.00 ppt	Not Detected
9Cl-PF3ONS	7/26/2023	<2.00 ppt	2.00 ppt	Not Detected
11Cl-PF3OUdS	7/26/2023	<5.00 ppt	5.00 ppt	Not Detected
PFDA	7/26/2023	<3.00 ppt	3.00 ppt	Not Detected
NFDHA	7/26/2023	<20.00 ppt	20.00 ppt	Not Detected
PFPeS	7/26/2023	<4.00 ppt	4.00 ppt	Not Detected
PFMBA	7/26/2023	<3.00 ppt	3.00 ppt	Not Detected
PFBS	7/26/2023	<3.00 ppt	3.00 ppt	Not Detected
PFOS	7/26/2023	<4.00 ppt	4.00 ppt	Not Detected
PFHpA	7/26/2023	<3.00 ppt	3.00 ppt	Not Detected
PFHxS	7/26/2023	<3.00 ppt	3.00 ppt	Not Detected
NMeFOSAA	7/26/2023	<6.00 ppt	6.00 ppt	Not Detected
NEtFOSAA	7/26/2023	<5.00 ppt	5.00 ppt	Not Detected
PFTrDA	7/26/2023	<7.00 ppt	7.00 ppt	Not Detected
PFNA	7/26/2023	<4.00 ppt	4.00 ppt	Not Detected
PFUnA	7/26/2023	<2.00 ppt	2.00 ppt	Not Detected
PFTA	7/26/2023	<8.00 ppt	8.00 ppt	Not Detected
PFHxA	4/20/2023	<3.00 ppt	3.00 ppt	Not Detected
9Cl-PF3ONS	4/20/2023	<2.00 ppt	2.00 ppt	Not Detected
PFTrDA	4/20/2023	<7.00 ppt	7.00 ppt	Not Detected
11Cl-PF3OUdS	4/20/2023	<5.00 ppt	5.00 ppt	Not Detected
NEtFOSAA	4/20/2023	<5.00 ppt	5.00 ppt	Not Detected
PFUnA	4/20/2023	<2.00 ppt	2.00 ppt	Not Detected
PFBS	4/20/2023	<3.00 ppt	3.00 ppt	Not Detected
PFHpA	4/20/2023	<3.00 ppt	3.00 ppt	Not Detected
PFHxS	4/20/2023	<3.00 ppt	3.00 ppt	Not Detected
PFOS	4/20/2023	<4.00 ppt	4.00 ppt	Not Detected
PFHpS	4/20/2023	<3.00 ppt	3.00 ppt	Not Detected
PFOA	4/20/2023	<4.00 ppt	4.00 ppt	Not Detected
PFDA	4/20/2023	<3.00 ppt	3.00 ppt	Not Detected
PFNA	4/20/2023	<4.00 ppt	4.00 ppt	Not Detected
PFTA	4/20/2023	<8.00 ppt	8.00 ppt	Not Detected
PFMPA	4/20/2023	<4.00 ppt	4.00 ppt	Not Detected
PFPeA	4/20/2023	<3.00 ppt	3.00 ppt	Not Detected
PFMBA	4/20/2023	<3.00 ppt	3.00 ppt	Not Detected
8:2 FTS	4/20/2023	<5.00 ppt	5.00 ppt	Not Detected
PFEESA	4/20/2023	<3.00 ppt	3.00 ppt	Not Detected
6:2 FTS	4/20/2023	<5.00 ppt	5.00 ppt	Not Detected

Population served record for Paris Water Works

EPA SDWIS lists 14,139 people served and 5,126 connections for this PWS, confirm the service-area footprint on the federal report before comparing to municipal census totals.

EPA SDWIS · PWS KY0090343

Sources: EPA SDWIS

Nationwide peers

730 violations · 14,139 served: nearest cross-state SDWIS matches.

Cross-state systems with comparable violation load

Nearest cross-state community systems (500+ served) by total SDWIS violations on record.

4 peers

Cross-state systems with similar served population

Nearest cross-state systems by EPA SDWIS population_served (same 500+ sitemap gate).

4 peers

What to do with Paris Water Works

Use this system's EPA-reported record as a starting filter, not a final verdict.

See how every tracked system in Kentucky compares on the same EPA violation measures. Kentucky systems
Check whether PFAS was detected at this system under UCMR5 testing. PFAS guide
Find and compare another public water system by name or PWSID. Search systems

EPA SDWIS and UCMR5 figures are informational only, not a substitute for a certified lab test of your own tap water.

Data sourced from EPA SDWIS and UCMR5 PFAS monitoring data. See our methodology for details. Retrieved and formatted by PlainWater

Compiled by PlainWater, Drinking Water Quality Editorial Process · May 15, 2026

Every figure on PlainWater is rendered directly from EPA SDWIS drinking-water data, no number is typed in by an editor. See our editorial standards & corrections policy, the methodology behind these numbers, or report a data error.