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Community Water System · PWS KY0300336

Owensboro Municipal Utilities

Owensboro, Kentucky 42302 - drinking water served from groundwater sources to 60,473 people, tracked in EPA SDWIS and UCMR5.

60,473
People served
701
EPA violations
20
Health-based
1 PFAS
UCMR5 result

The verdict

EPA records 701 drinking-water violations at Owensboro Municipal Utilities, 3% of them health-based - above the Kentucky per-system average, and UCMR5 testing detected 1 PFAS compound.

701
Total EPA violations on record
3%
Health-based (MCL / treatment failure)
60,473
People served by this system
1
PFAS compounds detected (UCMR5)

Water Quality Snapshot: Owensboro Municipal Utilities

Owensboro Municipal Utilities is a local-owned community water system that delivers drinking water to 60,473 residents in Owensboro, Kentucky (Daviess County) through 25,874 service connections. Its water is drawn from groundwater sources. EPA's Safe Drinking Water Information System records 701 total violations for this system , of which 20 (3%) are health-based, meaning a contaminant exceeded an EPA Maximum Contaminant Level or a required treatment technique failed. A further 508 monitoring and reporting violations are on file. The most recent violation on record dates to 2016.

The most frequently cited contaminant at this system is Coliform (TCR), recorded in 20 violations (MCL, health-based). Under EPA's UCMR5 PFAS monitoring program, 1 PFAS compound was detected in samples collected from this system, with a maximum reported concentration of 5 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%).

Owensboro Municipal Utilities's 701 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

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

Population Served
60,473
Total Violations
701
Health-Based Violations
20
Water Source
Groundwater

System Details

System Type
Community
Owner Type
Local
Connections
25,874
County
Daviess
School/Daycare
No
MCL Violations
20
Monitoring Violations
508
Treatment Tech Violations
0

Violation History

Contaminant violations recorded by EPA.

Contaminant Category Count Latest
Coliform (TCR) MCL 20 2007
Endrin MR 12 2008
BHC-GAMMA MR 12 2008
Methoxychlor MR 12 2008
Dalapon MR 12 2008
Diquat MR 12 2008
Endothall MR 12 2008
Glyphosate MR 12 2008
Simazine MR 12 2008
Picloram MR 12 2008
Hexachlorocyclopentadiene MR 12 2008
Aldicarb sulfoxide MR 12 2008
Aldicarb sulfone MR 12 2008
Atrazine MR 12 2008
LASSO MR 12 2008
2,4-D MR 12 2008
Benzo(a)pyrene MR 12 2008
Pentachlorophenol MR 12 2008
Total Polychlorinated Biphenyls (PCB) MR 12 2008
1,2-DIBROMO-3-CHLOROPROPANE MR 12 2008
ETHYLENE DIBROMIDE MR 12 2008
Chlordane MR 12 2008
Toxaphene MR 12 2008
OXAMYL MR 12 2008
Heptachlor epoxide MR 12 2008
Di(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate MR 12 2008
Dinoseb MR 12 2008
Carbofuran MR 12 2008
Heptachlor MR 12 2008
HEXACHLOROBENZENE MR 12 2008

PFAS Testing Results (UCMR5)

Results from EPA's Fifth Unregulated Contaminant Monitoring Rule. 1 of 58 samples detected PFAS.

Contaminant Date Result MRL Status
PFNA 9/6/2023 <4.00 ppt 4.00 ppt Not Detected
PFDA 9/6/2023 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
PFOA 9/6/2023 <4.00 ppt 4.00 ppt Not Detected
PFBA 9/6/2023 <5.00 ppt 5.00 ppt Not Detected
PFOS 9/6/2023 <4.00 ppt 4.00 ppt Not Detected
PFDoA 9/6/2023 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
PFHxS 9/6/2023 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
PFHpA 9/6/2023 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
PFBS 9/6/2023 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
NMeFOSAA 9/6/2023 <6.00 ppt 6.00 ppt Not Detected
NEtFOSAA 9/6/2023 <5.00 ppt 5.00 ppt Not Detected
PFTA 9/6/2023 <8.00 ppt 8.00 ppt Not Detected
PFTrDA 9/6/2023 <7.00 ppt 7.00 ppt Not Detected
PFMBA 9/6/2023 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
ADONA 9/6/2023 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
PFHxA 9/6/2023 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
PFHpS 9/6/2023 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
PFPeS 9/6/2023 <4.00 ppt 4.00 ppt Not Detected
PFEESA 9/6/2023 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
PFPeA 9/6/2023 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
PFMPA 9/6/2023 <4.00 ppt 4.00 ppt Not Detected
8:2 FTS 9/6/2023 <5.00 ppt 5.00 ppt Not Detected
4:2 FTS 9/6/2023 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
6:2 FTS 9/6/2023 <5.00 ppt 5.00 ppt Not Detected
HFPO-DA 9/6/2023 <5.00 ppt 5.00 ppt Not Detected
9Cl-PF3ONS 9/6/2023 <2.00 ppt 2.00 ppt Not Detected
11Cl-PF3OUdS 9/6/2023 <5.00 ppt 5.00 ppt Not Detected
PFUnA 9/6/2023 <2.00 ppt 2.00 ppt Not Detected
NFDHA 9/6/2023 <20.00 ppt 20.00 ppt Not Detected
NMeFOSAA 6/7/2023 <6.00 ppt 6.00 ppt Not Detected
NEtFOSAA 6/7/2023 <5.00 ppt 5.00 ppt Not Detected
PFTA 6/7/2023 <8.00 ppt 8.00 ppt Not Detected
PFTrDA 6/7/2023 <7.00 ppt 7.00 ppt Not Detected
PFBS 3/14/2023 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
11Cl-PF3OUdS 3/14/2023 <5.00 ppt 5.00 ppt Not Detected
PFUnA 3/14/2023 <2.00 ppt 2.00 ppt Not Detected
PFHxA 3/14/2023 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
PFDoA 3/14/2023 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
PFDA 3/14/2023 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
PFOA 3/14/2023 5.00 ppt 4.00 ppt Detected
PFOS 3/14/2023 <4.00 ppt 4.00 ppt Not Detected
PFNA 3/14/2023 <4.00 ppt 4.00 ppt Not Detected
PFHpA 3/14/2023 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
9Cl-PF3ONS 3/14/2023 <2.00 ppt 2.00 ppt Not Detected
PFBA 3/14/2023 <5.00 ppt 5.00 ppt Not Detected
PFHxS 3/14/2023 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
NFDHA 3/14/2023 <20.00 ppt 20.00 ppt Not Detected
ADONA 3/14/2023 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
PFPeS 3/14/2023 <4.00 ppt 4.00 ppt Not Detected
PFEESA 3/14/2023 <3.00 ppt 3.00 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 Owensboro Municipal Utilities.

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 KY0300336 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
2016 Revised Total Coliform Rule MON 4 SDWIS / KY0300336 / 8000
2014 Consumer Confidence Rule Other 2 SDWIS / KY0300336 / 7000
2008 Endrin MR 12 SDWIS / KY0300336 / 2005
2008 BHC-GAMMA MR 12 SDWIS / KY0300336 / 2010
2008 Methoxychlor MR 12 SDWIS / KY0300336 / 2015
2008 Dalapon MR 12 SDWIS / KY0300336 / 2031
2008 Diquat MR 12 SDWIS / KY0300336 / 2032
2008 Endothall MR 12 SDWIS / KY0300336 / 2033
2008 Glyphosate MR 12 SDWIS / KY0300336 / 2034
2008 Simazine MR 12 SDWIS / KY0300336 / 2037
2008 Picloram MR 12 SDWIS / KY0300336 / 2040
2008 Hexachlorocyclopentadiene MR 12 SDWIS / KY0300336 / 2042
2008 Aldicarb sulfoxide MR 12 SDWIS / KY0300336 / 2043
2008 Aldicarb sulfone MR 12 SDWIS / KY0300336 / 2044
2008 Atrazine MR 12 SDWIS / KY0300336 / 2050

How Owensboro Municipal Utilities Compares

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

Metric Owensboro Municipal Utilities Kentucky avg Federal benchmark
Total violations 701 189.8 SDWA compliance, any non-zero count is a recorded breach
Health-based violations 20 29.6 Indicates a contaminant exceeded a federal MCL
PFAS detection 1 compound 46.3% EPA final rule (2024): PFOA/PFOS MCL = 4.0 ppt
Population served 60,473 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 Owensboro Municipal Utilities water safe to drink? ▼
Owensboro Municipal Utilities (PWS ID: KY0300336) has 701 recorded violations in the EPA SDWIS database. PFAS contamination has been detected in UCMR5 testing, with 1 PFAS compound found. This system serves 60,473 people using Groundwater sources.
How many people does Owensboro Municipal Utilities serve? ▼
Owensboro Municipal Utilities serves 60,473 people in Owensboro, Kentucky. It is a Local-owned system using Groundwater water sources with 25,874 service connections.
What type of violations does Owensboro Municipal Utilities have? ▼
Owensboro Municipal Utilities has 701 total violations: 20 health-based violations (MCL exceedances or treatment failures), 508 monitoring/reporting violations, and 0 treatment technique violations. Health-based violations indicate contaminant levels exceeded EPA safe limits.
Has PFAS been detected in Owensboro Municipal Utilities water? ▼
Yes. UCMR5 testing detected 1 PFAS compound in Owensboro Municipal Utilities's water supply: PFOA. PFAS are persistent "forever chemicals" that do not break down in the environment.
What water source does Owensboro Municipal Utilities use? ▼
Owensboro Municipal Utilities uses Groundwater 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.