Knox County, Kentucky
14 ZIP codes · Avg score 61/100 · Grade C · Updated 2026-06-03
Knox County's water quality grade reflects a middle-ground assessment — its 14 ZIP codes range from fully compliant to violation-flagged.
How Knox County Compares
How Knox County Compares
Knox County scores 0 points above the Kentucky state average (61/100) and 7 points below the national average (68/100).
Data: EPA SDWIS Last verified: 2026-06-03
ZIP Code Risk Map
Water Quality Map: Knox 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: $1,006, driven primarily by flood
Infrastructure: 0.334% avg pipe failure probability, 8% of ZIPs at high risk
59% of homes built before 1978 (lead paint era)
Violation History (2023–2025)
→ Stable trendEPA violation counts by year across Knox County water systems. Health-based shown in red, total in blue.
Peak year: 2025 with 14 violations. Past 5 years: 17 total (17 health-based).
Source: EPA SDWIS historical violations. Data may lag 6–12 months for the most recent year.
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: $1,006
Bar widths proportional to share of total annual risk cost. Source: compound risk model (FEMA, EPA, USGS).
Housing Age Distribution
8,796 housing units in Knox 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 Knox County
Remediation costs are relatively manageable for most homeowners in Knox 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 4 systems in Knox County ranked by EPA violation count.
| # | Water System | Population | Violations |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Corbin Utilities Commission | 16,065 | 8 |
| 2 | Cumberland Falls Highway Water District | 9,498 | 4 |
| 3 | BARBOURVILLE UTILITIES | 16,420 | 4 |
| 4 | Knox County Utility Commission | 8,313 | 4 |
All ZIP Codes in Knox County
14 ZIP codes tracked in Knox County.
| # | ZIP Code | City | Safety Score | Grade | Violations | Home Value |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 40702 | Corbin | 80 | B | 4 (3 health) | — |
| 2 | 40906 | Barbourville | 68 | C | 4 (2 health) | $121K |
| 3 | 40903 | Artemus | 63 | C | 0 | $50K |
| 4 | 40923 | Cannon | 63 | C | 0 | $131K |
| 5 | 40946 | Green Road | 63 | C | 0 | — |
| 6 | 40949 | Heidrick | 63 | C | 0 | $136K |
| 7 | 40953 | Hinkle | 63 | C | 0 | $82K |
| 8 | 40982 | Scalf | 63 | C | 0 | $137K |
| 9 | 40997 | Walker | 63 | C | 0 | $48K |
| 10 | 40935 | Flat Lick | 55 | C | 0 | $51K |
| 11 | 40915 | Bimble | 53 | D | 0 | $10K |
| 12 | 40921 | Bryants Store | 53 | D | 0 | $46K |
| 13 | 40930 | Dewitt | 53 | D | 0 | — |
| 14 | 40943 | Girdler | 53 | D | 0 | $100K |
Recommended Buyer Guides for Knox County
If FEMA records flag flood-top-risk status or EPA samples show PFAS exceedances, the matching logic lifts emergency-water and PFAS-rated filtration into the recommendations — federal data drives the order, not retailer arrangements.
- Best Lead Paint Test Kits — 59% of homes built before 1978
- Best Under-Sink Reverse Osmosis Systems — Multi-contaminant removal at the kitchen tap
- 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 Knox County, Kentucky
Overview
Knox County in Kentucky covers 14 ZIP codes with an average Home Safety Score of C (61/100).
2 of 14 ZIP codes have recorded EPA violations. 5 health-based violations have been documented.
← 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.