Lee County, KY
drinking water quality
7,313 residents · 1 public water system · 2 ZIP codes
EPA sampled 1 of 1 public water system here, together serving about 8,428 people. The highest reading was PFOA at 5.4 ng/L at Beattyville Water Works. 1 of the sampled system was above a federal limit. Last sampled 7/22/2025.
What was found
| Compound | Highest result | Federal limit | Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|
| PFOA | 5.4 ng/L | 4 ng/L | 1.4× |
| PFOS | 5.4 ng/L | 4 ng/L | 1.4× |
Also detected, with no federal limit set: PFBA (7.8 ng/L), PFHxA (7 ng/L), PFBS (4.4 ng/L), PFPeA (4.4 ng/L).
What this means
PFAS are industrial chemicals that EPA describes as breaking down only very slowly in the environment. In April 2024 EPA set the first enforceable national limits: 4 ng/L for PFOA and PFOS, 10 ng/L for PFHxS, PFNA and GenX.
These figures are county-level and come from EPA’s sampling of public water systems. They describe the worst result found in the county, not what comes out of any particular tap — that depends on which system serves the address, and on the plumbing in the building. A private well is not covered by this programme at all.
ZIP codes in Lee County
41311 · 41397
Readings are county-level, so every ZIP here shares the figure above. Search your ZIP on the map to see it in context.