Public water monitoring in Whitley City shows a safety record well above the KY median — health-based violations are isolated exceptions rather than recurring patterns, the city's systems have stayed compliant across recent reporting cycles, and no cluster of recurring exceedances appears in any single service area.

Data: EPA SDWIS Last verified: 2026-06-03

Overview

We track water quality and home safety data for 1 ZIP code in Whitley City, Kentucky (population ~3,911), covering 1 community water system serving approximately 34,439 people region-wide.

No EPA violations recorded across any ZIP codes in Whitley City — an excellent indicator of water quality.

Home Safety Score

Average Home Safety Score for Whitley City: B (72/100)

The score combines three factors:

Factor	What It Measures
Water Quality	EPA violations and compliance history
Lead Levels	90th percentile lead concentration vs EPA action level
Radon Risk	EPA radon zone classification

Water Sources

Whitley City water systems draw from: Surface water.

Lead & Copper

• Lead data: not yet available for Whitley City
• 0 ZIP codes 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.

Areas with No Violations

All ZIP Codes in Whitley City

• 42653 [B]

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

Updated daily.

Housing Age Profile

The character of Whitley City's housing stock is one of deep historical layering — a median build year of 1983 signals a city built largely before the plumbing era changes of 1986 and 1970. Lead-soldered copper joints and, in the oldest properties, lead service lines are commonly present in this inventory. That context shapes what individual water testing may reveal, particularly in neighborhoods where the oldest housing is concentrated.

1983

Median Year Built

50%

Pre-1986 (Lead Paint Risk)

14%

Pre-1970 (Lead Pipes Risk)

Pre-1970 (14%) 1970–1986 (36%) Post-1986 (50%)

Over half of homes in Whitley City were built before 1986, when lead solder was banned. Older plumbing may leach lead into drinking water, especially with corrosive water chemistry.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau ACS B25034.

Cost Context: What Remediation Means for Whitley City Homeowners

The household financial picture for Whitley City homeowners is proportionally favorable — addressing documented issues claims a small slice of equity, and the cost-to-value ratio puts this area well within the manageable tier.

Median Home Value

$104,600

Est. Remediation

$900

Remediation as % of home value 0.9%

Remediation costs in Whitley City are relatively low compared to home values. The $300–$1,600 estimated range is a small fraction of median property value. Home values are 30% below the Kentucky average.

Lead Exposure Risk for Children in Whitley City

50%

Homes Built Before 1986

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.

Older interior plumbing shapes the local picture: 50% of Whitley City homes predate the federal solder ban, and aggregate sampling either approaches or crosses the action benchmark. That mix makes a single-home draw a standard pre-purchase or pre-occupancy step.

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