States › Kentucky › Harlan County

Harlan County, KY Water Quality

Water quality data for 11 public water systems serving Harlan County, Kentucky — based on EPA SDWIS enforcement records, lead testing results, and health-based violation history.

📅 2026 Report 🔄 Data updated 2026 Q2 📍 11 water systems · 14 cities
✅
Excellent — All Systems Performing Well

Water quality across the county is outstanding with minimal violations and very low lead levels.

A

Harlan County Earns a A

Harlan County: 14 communities across 11 water systems. 92.9% have no open violations.

  • Median lead where detected: 2.00 ppb
  • 1 communities with a lead detection, 13 reporting none detected
  • 0 communities with PFAS above the federal limit
  • 2 with significant inspection deficiencies
  • 92.9% of communities have no open violations
2 ppb
Median Lead Level
County-wide, 90th percentile
11
Water Systems
Active CWS & NTNCWS
92%
Violation-Free
No active violations on record
How we grade counties: MyWaterIQ uses EPA SDWIS enforcement data — actual MCL violations and lead test results — not the aspirational MCLG targets used by some sites. A grade reflects real compliance history, not theoretical risk. Learn more →

Cities by Water Quality

⭐ Best Performing
  • South Wallins
    Not detected
    No federal limits exceeded on record
    B
  • Pathfork
    Not detected
    No federal limits exceeded on record
    B
  • Kenvir
    Not detected
    No federal limits exceeded on record
    B
  • Wallins Creek
    Not detected
    No federal limits exceeded on record
    B
  • Harlan
    Not detected
    1 health-based violation since 2015
    A
⚠ Needs Attention
  • Cumberland
    Not detected
    3 significant inspection deficiencies
    C
  • Benham
    Not detected
    1 violation currently open
    C
  • Lynch
    2.00 ppb
    4 significant inspection deficiencies
    C
  • Harlan
    Not detected
    1 health-based violation since 2015
    A
  • Evarts
    Not detected
    2 health-based violations since 2015
    B
County Lead Level — Median 2 ppb
Based on most recent 90th percentile lead tests across all reporting systems
0 ppb5 ppb10 ppb15 ppb
County median: 2 ppb — 13.3% of the federal action level
Systems by Lead Level
Under 5 ppb
1
No Data
13

All Cities in Harlan County

Cumberland Not detected C
Harlan Not detected A
Evarts Not detected B
South Wallins Not detected B
Cawood Not detected A
Loyall Not detected A
Lynch 2.00 ppb C
Benham Not detected C
Ages Not detected B
Pathfork Not detected B
Kenvir Not detected B
Coxton Not detected B
Coldiron Not detected B
Wallins Creek Not detected B
Showing 14 cities
No active violations Active violations

About Harlan County Drinking Water

Harlan County is served by 11 water systems covering 14 communities. 93% have no open violations.

Of the communities reporting lead results, 1 recorded a detection, with a median of 2.00 ppb — 13% of the federal action level. 13 reported none detected, which means below the laboratory limit rather than an absence of lead.

No community here has PFAS above the federal limit on record. State inspectors recorded significant deficiencies at 2 of them.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Harlan County tap water safe to drink?▼
93% of communities have no open violation. No community has PFAS above the federal limit on record.
What is the lead level in Harlan County?▼
Among communities with a detection the median is 2.00 ppb, 13% of the 15 ppb action level. 13 reported none detected and 0 reported no result.
How many water systems serve Harlan County?▼
11 community water systems serve 14 communities here.
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