Louisville's water quality grade in KY reflects a middle-ground assessment - service areas range from fully compliant to violation-flagged in current EPA records.

Data: EPA SDWIS, FEMA NFIP, Census ACS Last verified: 2026-07-19

Water Quality in Louisville

We track water quality and home safety data for 66 ZIP codes in Louisville, Kentucky, covering 5 community water systems serving approximately 765,842 people.

No EPA violations have been recorded across any ZIP codes in Louisville - an excellent indicator of water quality.

Average Home Safety Score: C (65/100)

Water sources: Surface water.

Lead Risk

• Average lead level (90th percentile): 0.0011 mg/L
• 70% of housing built before 1986 (when lead solder was banned)
• 25% of housing built before 1950 (when lead pipes were standard)
• Median year built: 1962
• Most common estimated pipe material: Galvanized Steel or Copper
• Lead exposure risk score: 47/100
• Estimated lead service line probability: 21%
• 21 ZIP codes classified as high or very high lead risk

With 70% of homes built before the 1986 lead solder ban, Louisville residents - especially those in older neighborhoods - should consider testing their tap water for lead. Homes built before 1950 are at the highest risk of having lead service lines.

Housing Age Distribution

349,615 total housing units across 66 ZIP codes:

Flood Risk

FEMA National Flood Insurance Program data for Louisville:

• 4,412 flood insurance claims on record
• $72,656,544 total paid out
• $16,468 average claim payout
• Dominant FEMA flood zone: AE (High risk)
• 24 of 66 ZIP codes in high-risk flood zones (A/V)

Radon Risk

Dominant EPA radon zone: Zone 1 (High Risk)

• Zone 1 (High): 65 ZIP codes
• Zone 2 (Moderate): 1 ZIP codes
• Zone 3 (Low): 0 ZIP codes

The EPA recommends testing homes in Zone 1 and Zone 2 areas for radon.

Neighborhoods by Safety Score

Safest Areas

Areas Needing Attention

What Louisville Residents Can Do

Test Your Water

• Order a certified lab test - home test kits cost $20–50 and cover lead, bacteria, and common contaminants
• Request your utility's CCR (Consumer Confidence Report) - your water provider must publish this annually
• Check your ZIP code - each area in Louisville has different water systems and risk levels

Filter Your Water

• NSF-certified pitcher filter removes chlorine taste and some contaminants ($20–40)
• NSF 53-certified filter for lead - recommended for homes built before 1986
• Reverse osmosis system removes 95%+ of contaminants including lead, PFAS, and nitrates ($150–400)

Test for Radon

• Louisville is in a high-risk radon area
• Short-term radon test kits cost $10–25
• If levels exceed 4 pCi/L, EPA recommends professional mitigation

Stay Informed

• Visit your ZIP code report for detailed, address-level data
• Sign up for EPA water quality alerts
• Review the annual water quality report from your local utility

All ZIP Codes in Louisville

• 40201 [B]
• 40202 [C]
• 40203 [B]
• 40204 [C]
• 40205 [C]
• 40206 [C]
• 40207 [C]
• 40208 [C]
• 40209 [C]
• 40210 [B]
• 40211 [C]
• 40212 [C]
• 40213 [C]
• 40214 [C]
• 40215 [C]
• 40216 [C]
• 40217 [C]
• 40218 [C]
• 40219 [C]
• 40220 [C]
• 40221 [C]
• 40222 [C]
• 40223 [C]
• 40224 [C]
• 40225 [C]
• 40228 [C]
• 40229 [C]
• 40231 [C]
• 40232 [C]
• 40233 [C]
• 40241 [C]
• 40242 [C]
• 40243 [B]
• 40245 [C]
• 40250 [C]
• 40251 [B]
• 40252 [B]
• 40253 [C]
• 40255 [C]
• 40256 [C]
• 40257 [C]
• 40258 [C]
• 40259 [C]
• 40261 [C]
• 40266 [C]
• 40268 [C]
• 40269 [C]
• 40270 [C]
• 40272 [C]
• 40280 [C]
• 40281 [C]
• 40282 [C]
• 40283 [C]
• 40285 [C]
• 40287 [C]
• 40289 [C]
• 40290 [C]
• 40291 [C]
• 40292 [C]
• 40293 [C]
• 40294 [C]
• 40295 [C]
• 40296 [C]
• 40297 [C]
• 40298 [C]
• 40299 [C]

Frequently Asked Questions

Is the tap water safe to drink in Louisville, KY?

Louisville has an average Home Safety Score of 65/100 (grade C) across 66 ZIP codes. No EPA violations have been recorded. Safety varies by neighborhood - check your specific ZIP code report for details.

Does Louisville have lead in the water?

The average 90th-percentile lead level across Louisville is 0.0011 mg/L, below the EPA action level of 0.015 mg/L. No ZIP codes currently exceed the EPA lead action level. About 70% of housing was built before 1986, when lead solder was banned.

Is Louisville at risk for flooding?

FEMA data shows 4,412 flood insurance claims in Louisville ZIP codes, with an average payout of $16,468. 24 of 66 ZIP codes are in high-risk FEMA flood zones (A or V).

Are there lead pipes in Louisville homes?

70% of Louisville housing was built before 1986, when lead solder was common in plumbing. 25% was built before 1950, when lead pipes were standard. The most common estimated pipe material is Galvanized Steel or Copper. The estimated probability of lead service lines is 21%. We recommend testing your water if your home was built before 1986.

Data Sources

• Water quality: EPA Safe Drinking Water Information System (SDWIS)
• Lead/copper: EPA Lead and Copper Rule sampling data
• Housing age: U.S. Census Bureau American Community Survey
• Flood data: FEMA National Flood Insurance Program
• Lead exposure: Composite risk score based on housing age, water lead levels, and service line estimates
• Radon: EPA Map of Radon Zones

Updated daily.

Housing Age Profile

For most of Louisville's housing stock, construction occurred after 1986 - when lead solder in plumbing was federally prohibited. The median build year of 1962 broadly reflects that newer profile.

1962

Median Year Built

0%

Pre-1986 (Lead Paint Risk)

0%

Pre-1970 (Lead Pipes Risk)

Most homes in Louisville were built after 1986, reducing the risk of lead contamination from plumbing. Older homes should still be tested.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau ACS B25034.

Louisville: Lead Risk & Vulnerable Populations

0.0011

mg/L Avg Lead (Limit: 0.015)

Why children are most at risk: The CDC states there is no safe level of lead exposure for children. Children under 6 absorb lead more readily than adults, and even low levels can cause developmental delays, learning difficulties, and behavioral problems.

Lead risk in Louisville appears low overall, but individual homes may differ. Testing is the only way to confirm your water's lead content.

Sources: EPA Lead and Copper Rule, U.S. Census Bureau ACS, CDC childhood lead poisoning prevention guidelines.

Louisville: Flood History & Water Damage Risk

Flood activity in Louisville is neither negligible nor at the level of the highest-exposure areas in the NFIP dataset. The 4412-claim record and 0% flood zone coverage suggest a community that has experienced recurrent events but has not faced the kind of sustained, severe exposure where water-supply contamination becomes a primary public health concern. It sits in a middle range where flood history merits inclusion in any complete local water quality picture.

4,412

Total FEMA Flood Claims

~221

Est. Claims/Year

Louisville has a moderate flood history with 4,412 FEMA claims. Flood events can contaminate drinking water and overwhelm treatment systems.

How flooding affects water quality: Flood events can introduce sewage, agricultural runoff, and industrial chemicals into water supplies. Even after floodwaters recede, contamination can persist in wells and aging infrastructure.

Residents in flood-prone areas should consider flood insurance even outside FEMA zones - over 25% of flood claims come from low-to-moderate risk areas. After any flood event, test your water before drinking.

Source: FEMA National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) claims data, FEMA flood zone designations.