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Community Water System · PWS KY0900323

North Nelson Water District

Coxs Creek, Kentucky 40013 - drinking water served from surface water sources to 13,365 people, tracked in EPA SDWIS and UCMR5.

13,365
People served
41
EPA violations
22
Health-based
3 PFAS
UCMR5 result

The verdict

EPA records 41 drinking-water violations at North Nelson Water District, 54% of them health-based - below the Kentucky per-system average, and UCMR5 testing detected 3 PFAS compounds.

41
Total EPA violations on record
54%
Health-based (MCL / treatment failure)
13,365
People served by this system
3
PFAS compounds detected (UCMR5)

Water Quality Snapshot: North Nelson Water District

North Nelson Water District is a local-owned community water system that delivers drinking water to 13,365 residents in Coxs Creek, Kentucky (Nelson County) through 5,111 service connections. Its water is drawn from surface water sources. EPA's Safe Drinking Water Information System records 41 total violations for this system , of which 22 (54%) are health-based, meaning a contaminant exceeded an EPA Maximum Contaminant Level or a required treatment technique failed. A further 10 monitoring and reporting violations are on file. The most recent violation on record dates to 2015.

The most frequently cited contaminant at this system is Total Haloacetic Acids (HAA5), recorded in 15 violations (MCL, health-based). Under EPA's UCMR5 PFAS monitoring program, 3 PFAS compounds were detected in samples collected from this system, with a maximum reported concentration of 5.7 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%).

North Nelson Water District's 41 violations sit below 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

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

Population Served
13,365
Total Violations
41
Health-Based Violations
22
Water Source
Surface Water

System Details

System Type
Community
Owner Type
Local
Connections
5,111
County
Nelson
School/Daycare
No
MCL Violations
22
Monitoring Violations
10
Treatment Tech Violations
0

Violation History

Contaminant violations recorded by EPA.

Contaminant Category Count Latest
Total Haloacetic Acids (HAA5) MCL 15 2015
Consumer Confidence Rule Other 8 2009
Lead and Copper Rule MR 5 1997
Total Haloacetic Acids (HAA5) MR 5 2015
Coliform (TCR) MCL 4 2007
TTHM MCL 3 1998

PFAS Testing Results (UCMR5)

Results from EPA's Fifth Unregulated Contaminant Monitoring Rule. 4 of 232 samples detected PFAS.

Contaminant Date Result MRL Status
NMeFOSAA 7/26/2023 <6.00 ppt 6.00 ppt Not Detected
PFDA 7/26/2023 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
PFBA 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
4:2 FTS 7/26/2023 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
11Cl-PF3OUdS 7/26/2023 <5.00 ppt 5.00 ppt Not Detected
PFUnA 7/26/2023 <2.00 ppt 2.00 ppt Not Detected
PFHxA 7/26/2023 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
PFDoA 7/26/2023 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
PFOA 7/26/2023 <4.00 ppt 4.00 ppt Not Detected
PFOS 7/26/2023 <4.00 ppt 4.00 ppt Not Detected
PFNA 7/26/2023 <4.00 ppt 4.00 ppt Not Detected
PFHxS 7/26/2023 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
PFHpA 7/26/2023 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
PFBS 7/26/2023 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
NEtFOSAA 7/26/2023 <5.00 ppt 5.00 ppt Not Detected
PFTA 7/26/2023 <8.00 ppt 8.00 ppt Not Detected
8:2 FTS 7/26/2023 <5.00 ppt 5.00 ppt Not Detected
6:2 FTS 7/26/2023 <5.00 ppt 5.00 ppt Not Detected
PFTrDA 7/26/2023 <7.00 ppt 7.00 ppt Not Detected
PFHpS 7/26/2023 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
PFPeA 7/26/2023 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
PFMBA 7/26/2023 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
HFPO-DA 7/26/2023 <5.00 ppt 5.00 ppt Not Detected
PFEESA 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
PFMPA 7/26/2023 <4.00 ppt 4.00 ppt Not Detected
PFHpS 7/26/2023 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
PFHxA 7/26/2023 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
PFDoA 7/26/2023 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
PFOA 7/26/2023 5.70 ppt 4.00 ppt Detected
PFOS 7/26/2023 <4.00 ppt 4.00 ppt Not Detected
PFNA 7/26/2023 <4.00 ppt 4.00 ppt Not Detected
PFHxS 7/26/2023 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
PFDA 7/26/2023 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
11Cl-PF3OUdS 7/26/2023 <5.00 ppt 5.00 ppt Not Detected
9Cl-PF3ONS 7/26/2023 <2.00 ppt 2.00 ppt Not Detected
PFMPA 7/26/2023 <4.00 ppt 4.00 ppt Not Detected
PFPeA 7/26/2023 4.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Detected
PFMBA 7/26/2023 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
PFEESA 7/26/2023 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
6:2 FTS 7/26/2023 <5.00 ppt 5.00 ppt Not Detected
PFUnA 7/26/2023 <2.00 ppt 2.00 ppt Not Detected
NMeFOSAA 7/26/2023 <6.00 ppt 6.00 ppt Not Detected
PFTrDA 7/26/2023 <7.00 ppt 7.00 ppt Not Detected
PFTA 7/26/2023 <8.00 ppt 8.00 ppt Not Detected
NFDHA 7/26/2023 <20.00 ppt 20.00 ppt Not Detected
4:2 FTS 7/26/2023 <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 North Nelson Water District.

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 KY0900323 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
2015 Total Haloacetic Acids (HAA5) MCL 15 SDWIS / KY0900323 / 2456
2015 Total Haloacetic Acids (HAA5) MR 5 SDWIS / KY0900323 / 2456
2009 Consumer Confidence Rule Other 8 SDWIS / KY0900323 / 7000
2007 Coliform (TCR) MCL 4 SDWIS / KY0900323 / 3100
1998 TTHM MCL 3 SDWIS / KY0900323 / 2950
1997 Lead and Copper Rule MR 5 SDWIS / KY0900323 / 5000

How North Nelson Water District Compares

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

Metric North Nelson Water District Kentucky avg Federal benchmark
Total violations 41 189.8 SDWA compliance, any non-zero count is a recorded breach
Health-based violations 22 29.6 Indicates a contaminant exceeded a federal MCL
PFAS detection 3 compounds 46.3% EPA final rule (2024): PFOA/PFOS MCL = 4.0 ppt
Population served 13,365 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 North Nelson Water District water safe to drink? ▼
North Nelson Water District (PWS ID: KY0900323) has 41 recorded violations in the EPA SDWIS database. PFAS contamination has been detected in UCMR5 testing, with 3 PFAS compounds found. This system serves 13,365 people using Surface Water sources.
How many people does North Nelson Water District serve? ▼
North Nelson Water District serves 13,365 people in Coxs Creek, Kentucky. It is a Local-owned system using Surface Water water sources with 5,111 service connections.
What type of violations does North Nelson Water District have? ▼
North Nelson Water District has 41 total violations: 22 health-based violations (MCL exceedances or treatment failures), 10 monitoring/reporting violations, and 0 treatment technique violations. Health-based violations indicate contaminant levels exceeded EPA safe limits.
Has PFAS been detected in North Nelson Water District water? ▼
Yes. UCMR5 testing detected 3 PFAS compounds in North Nelson Water District's water supply: PFOA, PFPeA, PFBS. PFAS are persistent "forever chemicals" that do not break down in the environment.
What water source does North Nelson Water District use? ▼
North Nelson Water District 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.