Mammoth Cave, KY: 13 Health Violations - Home Safety 74/100
1 ZIP code · 1 water system · Updated
ZipCheckup grade for Mammoth Cave: B.
This ZIP looks solid, with a few items worth a quick check.
Your top priority: consider a certified water filter (13 health violations on record). NSF certified filters →
Looking at federal monitoring data for Mammoth Cave, KY: the city clears benchmarks set under the Safe Drinking Water Act with room to spare - recorded exceedances are rare, and the systems serving local households have not triggered any pattern of repeat deficiencies in recent cycles.
How Mammoth Cave Compares
Data: EPA SDWIS
What You Should Know About Mammoth Cave Water
- Your city's water systems recorded 14 violations in the past 5 years.
- Average lead level: 0.005 mg/L.
- Homes built before 1986: 46% - older plumbing may contain lead solder.
- Estimated remediation: $400 per household.
Who Supplies Your Water in Mammoth Cave
A single utility carries the primary residential water load in Mammoth Cave, KY - the dominant provider across 1 federally tracked system.
- B
Overview
We track home safety data for 1 ZIP code in Mammoth Cave, Kentucky (population ~1,111), covering 1 community water system serving approximately 17,848 people region-wide. The EPA snapshots used for this build directly map water systems to 1 of 1 ZIP codes.
1 of 1 ZIP code with a reported violation count in the available EPA record (100%) have recorded EPA violations. 13 health-based violations appear in the available health breakdown.
Home Safety Score
Average Home Safety Score for Mammoth Cave: B (74/100)
Model 4.0.0 uses four measured components across three equally weighted domains. If a required domain is unavailable, no score is published:
| Factor | What It Measures |
|---|---|
| Water Quality | EPA violations and compliance history |
| PFAS MCL Screen | UCMR 5 testing against the covered federal MCLs |
| Radon Risk | EPA radon zone classification |
| Annual AQI | EPA AirData county-year median with at least 90 observed days |
Water Sources
Mammoth Cave water systems draw from: Surface water.
Lead & Copper
- Average lead level (90th percentile): 0.0050 mg/L (EPA action level: 0.015 mg/L)
- 0 of 1 ZIP code with known status exceed the EPA lead action level
Radon Risk
Dominant radon zone: Zone 2 (Moderate Risk)
The EPA recommends testing homes in Zone 1 and Zone 2 areas for radon.
Top Contaminants
| Contaminant | Category | Violations | ZIPs Affected |
|---|---|---|---|
| Contaminant 0800 | Other | 18 | 1 |
| Fecal Coliform | Microbiological | 10 | 1 |
Areas with Most Violations
| ZIP Code | Safety Score | Violations | Health-Based | System |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 42259 | B | 14 | 13 | Edmonson Company Water District |
All ZIP Codes in Mammoth Cave
- 42259 [B] - 14 violations ⚠
Data Sources
- Water quality: EPA Safe Drinking Water Information System (SDWIS)
- Lead/copper: EPA Lead and Copper Rule sampling data
- Radon: EPA Map of Radon Zones
Reporting periods vary by source. Missing data is shown as unavailable, not as zero.
Top Contaminants in Mammoth Cave Water
Based on EPA violation records. Check your ZIP code report for system-specific contaminant data.
Housing & Infrastructure in Mammoth Cave
With 46% of homes built before 1986, lead solder in plumbing is a potential concern. The EPA banned lead solder in 1986, but many older homes retain original plumbing.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau American Community Survey (ACS).
Housing Age Profile
What does a median build year of 1998 mean for water safety in Mammoth Cave? It means the housing stock straddles two key plumbing thresholds: the 1986 federal ban on lead solder in copper plumbing, and the pre-1970 era when lead pipes were commonly installed for service lines. A meaningful share of homes predates one or both of those cutoffs, creating varied risk levels across the city's housing inventory.
Most homes in Mammoth Cave 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.
Cost Context: What Remediation Means for Mammoth Cave Homeowners
When estimated remediation is placed alongside median property values in Mammoth Cave, the resulting ratio is low - a finding consistent with a household financial perspective where documented issues can be addressed without a meaningful impact on overall equity position, making this market one of the more favorable contexts for remediation planning.
Remediation costs in Mammoth Cave are relatively low compared to home values. The $0–$800 estimated range is a small fraction of median property value. Home values are 12% above the Kentucky average.
Lead Exposure Risk for Children in Mammoth Cave
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.
Although utility-side compliance with federal Lead and Copper requirements remains the system reference, that compliance does not extend down into interior plumbing. With 46% of Mammoth Cave stock built before the solder ban and aggregate readings at or beyond the action mark, a household-level sample becomes the practical way to close that information gap.
Sources: EPA Lead and Copper Rule, U.S. Census Bureau ACS, CDC childhood lead poisoning prevention guidelines.
Deep Dive Reports
Detailed analysis for Mammoth Cave, KY