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Community Water System · PWS KY0090343

Paris Water Works

Paris, Kentucky 40361 - drinking water served from surface water sources to 14,139 people, tracked in EPA SDWIS and UCMR5.

14,139
People served
730
EPA violations
155
Health-based
4 PFAS
UCMR5 result

The verdict

EPA records 730 drinking-water violations at Paris Water Works, 21% of them health-based - above the Kentucky per-system average, and UCMR5 testing detected 4 PFAS compounds.

730
Total EPA violations on record
21%
Health-based (MCL / treatment failure)
14,139
People served by this system
4
PFAS compounds detected (UCMR5)

Water Quality Snapshot: Paris Water Works

Paris Water Works is a local-owned community water system that delivers drinking water to 14,139 residents in Paris, Kentucky (Bourbon County) through 5,126 service connections. Its water is drawn from surface water sources. EPA's Safe Drinking Water Information System records 730 total violations for this system , of which 155 (21%) are health-based, meaning a contaminant exceeded an EPA Maximum Contaminant Level or a required treatment technique failed. A further 563 monitoring and reporting violations are on file. The most recent violation on record dates to 2025.

The most frequently cited contaminant at this system is Total Haloacetic Acids (HAA5), recorded in 80 violations (MCL, health-based). Under EPA's UCMR5 PFAS monitoring program, 4 PFAS compounds were detected in samples collected from this system, with a maximum reported concentration of 6.3 ppt (parts per trillion). PFAS are persistent synthetic chemicals linked to health effects at very low exposure levels.

Across Kentucky, EPA tracks 424 public water systems serving 4,570,541 people, with 80,482 cumulative violations and 12,554 health-based violations on record. About 99% of systems in the state carry at least one violation, and state-wide the average per system is 189.8 violations. Statewide, 107 of 231 UCMR5-tested systems have reported PFAS detections (46.3%).

Paris Water Works's 730 violations sit above the Kentucky average.

All figures above are sourced directly from EPA SDWIS and UCMR5 public data releases and are updated as EPA publishes new reporting cycles.

PFAS Detected

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

Population Served
14,139
Total Violations
730
Health-Based Violations
155
Water Source
Surface Water

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

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

Verify This Water System

The figures above are aggregated from EPA's public databases. To verify the underlying records, or to file a complaint, request a Consumer Confidence Report, or check current monitoring status, go directly to the federal and state regulators that enforce the Safe Drinking Water Act for Paris Water Works.

Federal Source of Truth

EPA SDWIS, Federal Reports

EPA's Safe Drinking Water Information System (SDWIS) holds the federal compliance record for every regulated public water system. Open the system-level report by PWS ID:

View PWS ID KY0090343 on SDWIS

Source: EPA SDWIS Federal Reports Search

State Regulator

Kentucky Drinking Water Authority

Kentucky's primacy agency administers the Safe Drinking Water Act locally. Search EPA SDWIS for the current state contact, or use the state's public health or environment department portal.

Find KY regulator via EPA SDWIS

Violation Timeline

Each row links to the EPA SDWIS public record for verification. Cross-reference the contaminant code on EPA's federal report to see violation dates, return-to-compliance status, and enforcement actions.

Year (latest) Contaminant Category Count EPA Record
2025 Interim Enhanced Surface Water Treatment Rule TT 18 SDWIS / KY0090343 / 0300
2023 Consumer Confidence Rule Other 8 SDWIS / KY0090343 / 7000
2020 Total Haloacetic Acids (HAA5) MCL 80 SDWIS / KY0090343 / 2456
2019 Total Haloacetic Acids (HAA5) MR 9 SDWIS / KY0090343 / 2456
2017 TTHM MR 5 SDWIS / KY0090343 / 2950
2016 Revised Total Coliform Rule MON 25 SDWIS / KY0090343 / 8000
2015 CARBON, TOTAL TT 32 SDWIS / KY0090343 / 2920
2012 CARBON, TOTAL MR 8 SDWIS / KY0090343 / 2920
2012 Trichloroethylene MCL 4 SDWIS / KY0090343 / 2984
2009 1,2,4-Trichlorobenzene MR 15 SDWIS / KY0090343 / 2378
2009 Xylenes, Total MR 15 SDWIS / KY0090343 / 2955
2009 DICHLOROMETHANE MR 15 SDWIS / KY0090343 / 2964
2009 o-Dichlorobenzene MR 15 SDWIS / KY0090343 / 2968
2009 p-Dichlorobenzene MR 15 SDWIS / KY0090343 / 2969
2009 Vinyl chloride MR 15 SDWIS / KY0090343 / 2976

How Paris Water Works Compares

Cross-reference this system's record against state averages and the federal MCL framework for context.

Metric Paris Water Works Kentucky avg Federal benchmark
Total violations 730 189.8 SDWA compliance, any non-zero count is a recorded breach
Health-based violations 155 29.6 Indicates a contaminant exceeded a federal MCL
PFAS detection 4 compounds 46.3% EPA final rule (2024): PFOA/PFOS MCL = 4.0 ppt
Population served 14,139 10,780 Sizing context for compliance burden

Sources: EPA SDWIS and EPA National Primary Drinking Water Regulations (40 CFR Part 141). State averages computed across 424 regulated public water systems in Kentucky.

Federal MCL reference, Safe Drinking Water Act thresholds ▼
Contaminant Federal MCL / Action Level Note
Lead 0 mg/L (Action Level: 0.015 mg/L) Lead and Copper Rule treatment technique
Arsenic 0.010 mg/L (10 ppb) Health-based MCL since 2006
Total Coliform Treatment technique (RTCR) Indicator organism, monitoring trigger
PFOA / PFOS (PFAS) 4.0 ppt each (final 2024 rule) Compliance deadline 2029 (EPA proposed extending to 2031, not yet final as of May 2026)
Nitrate (as N) 10 mg/L Acute health risk for infants

Frequently Asked Questions

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. This system serves 14,139 people using Surface Water sources.
How many people does Paris Water Works serve? ▼
Paris Water Works serves 14,139 people in Paris, Kentucky. It is a Local-owned system using Surface Water water sources with 5,126 service connections.
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.
Data Sources: EPA Safe Drinking Water Information System (SDWIS), Q4 2025. PFAS data from EPA UCMR5 monitoring program (2023-2025). This data is provided for informational purposes only.

Read our methodology - how this data is sourced, computed, and verified.

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

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