Ballard County, Kentucky
5 ZIP codes · Avg score 74/100 · Grade B · Updated 2026-06-03
Homeowners across Ballard County's 5 ZIP codes live with water safety scores that generally beat state and national averages.
How Ballard County Compares
How Ballard County Compares
Ballard County scores 13 points above the Kentucky state average (61/100) and 6 points above the national average (68/100).
Data: EPA SDWIS Last verified: 2026-06-03
ZIP Code Risk Map
Water Quality Map: Ballard County, Kentucky
Each dot represents a ZIP code. Color indicates water quality grade. Tap a dot for details.
Key Risk Factors
Estimated additional annual cost per homeowner: $898, driven primarily by flood
Infrastructure: 0.338% avg pipe failure probability
54.8% of homes built before 1978 (lead paint era)
Infrastructure Overview
Sources: Census ACS (housing age), EPA SDWIS (infrastructure risk model), state bridge inspection data.
Compound Risk Breakdown
Estimated additional annual cost per homeowner: $898
Bar widths proportional to share of total annual risk cost. Source: compound risk model (FEMA, EPA, USGS).
Housing Age Distribution
4,916 housing units in Ballard County
Source: U.S. Census Bureau ACS B25034 (Year Structure Built).
Water Safety Affordability
How much it costs to fix water issues relative to home values in Ballard County
Remediation costs are relatively manageable for most homeowners in Ballard County, representing a small fraction of property value.
Remediation includes water filtration, lead abatement, radon mitigation, and flood protection where applicable. Source: Census ACS, EPA SDWIS.
Water Systems with Most Violations
Top 3 systems in Ballard County ranked by EPA violation count.
| # | Water System | Population | Violations |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | KEVIL WATER DEPARTMENT | 1,782 | 1 |
| 2 | WICKLIFFE MUNICIPAL WATER SYSTEM | 1,264 | 1 |
| 3 | Paducah Water Works | 65,004 | 1 |
All ZIP Codes in Ballard County
5 ZIP codes tracked in Ballard County.
| # | ZIP Code | City | Safety Score | Grade | Violations | Home Value |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 42053 | Kevil | 95 | A | 1 | $163K |
| 2 | 42024 | Barlow | 73 | B | 0 | $150K |
| 3 | 42056 | La Center | 73 | B | 0 | $106K |
| 4 | 42022 | Bandana | 66 | C | 0 | $89K |
| 5 | 42087 | Wickliffe | 65 | C | 1 | $117K |
Recommended Buyer Guides for Ballard County
Editorial methodology pairs each documented risk in this county with the buyer category that addresses it, drawing on water-quality detections, housing-stock lead exposure, EPA Radon Zone designation, and FEMA flood and wildfire ratings. NSF-certified options surface where applicable, and products that match the specific contaminant take priority.
- Best Lead Paint Test Kits — 54.8% of homes built before 1978
- Best Sump Pumps — Flood is the top compound risk factor
- Best Mold Test Kits — Flood-driven moisture and mold risk
Deep Dive Reports
Detailed analysis for Ballard County, Kentucky
Overview
Ballard County in Kentucky covers 5 ZIP codes with an average Home Safety Score of B (74/100).
2 of 5 ZIP codes have recorded EPA violations. All violations are monitoring/reporting type.
← Back to Kentucky water quality report
Data Sources
- Water quality: EPA Safe Drinking Water Information System (SDWIS)
- Home values: U.S. Census Bureau ACS (median estimates by ZCTA)
Updated daily.