Health Concerns Found SCHOOL DISTRICT

Harlan County School District (KY): 18 Health-Based Violations in Water Systems Mapped to the District Area

27 ZIP codes · 17 water systems · 47,283 people served

ZipCheckup's reading of EPA drinking-water data for water systems mapped to ZIP codes in Harlan County School District: 19 violations at water systems mapped to the district's ZIP codes, not marked resolved in EPA records.

Data: ZipCheckup Home Safety Score model 4.0.0, EPA SDWIS and UCMR 5, EPA radon zones, EPA AirData, NCES

N/A
Avg Safety Score (0 ZIP)
27
ZIP Codes
17
Water Systems
230
Violations (since 2021) (21 ZIP)
0.005 mg/L
Highest lead 90th percentile (district water systems)
Zone 2
Radon Risk (27 ZIP)

Why School Water Quality Matters

Children drink more water per pound of body weight than adults, making them more vulnerable to contaminants. School water quality affects students for hours every weekday.

Home Safety and Water Evidence Overview

The Harlan County School District in Kentucky spans 27 ZIP codes. This materialization has canonical Home Safety Scores for 0 ZIP records and typed EPA water violation counts for 21 ZIP records. Missing evidence is not treated as zero.

The deduplicated primary-system served-population sum is 47,283 across 11 water systems. This is not the district resident population.

Why This Matters for Children

Children are more vulnerable to water contaminants than adults. The EPA and CDC identify these key risks:

  • Lead exposure - Even low levels of lead can affect brain development, reduce IQ, and cause behavioral problems in children. There is no safe level of lead for children.
  • PFAS ("forever chemicals") - Linked to immune system effects and developmental delays in children. Children drink more water relative to body weight than adults.
  • Nitrate - Dangerous for infants (can cause "blue baby syndrome"). Agricultural areas often have elevated nitrate.
  • Disinfection byproducts - Long-term exposure may increase cancer risk. School water fountains often have stagnant water that concentrates these compounds.

Lead Levels in the District

Metric Value EPA Threshold
Average of reported 90th-percentile lead results 0.0007 mg/L 0.015 mg/L
Highest lead level 0.005 mg/L 0.015 mg/L
ZIP records exceeding EPA action level 0 of 21 with known status -

EPA Violation History

18 health-based violations recorded across 21 ZIP records with known health counts since 2021. 20 of 21 ZIP records with known total counts have at least one violation. 19 violations remain unresolved.

Contaminants of Concern

Contaminant Category Violations Health-Based ZIPs Affected
Consumer Confidence Rule Reporting 74 No 19
Revised Total Coliform Rule Microbiological 49 No 15
Haloacetic Acids (HAA5) Disinfection Byproducts 25 No 11
Total Trihalomethanes (TTHM) Disinfection Byproducts 25 No 11
Lead and Copper Rule Revisions Treatment Technique 14 Yes 6
Interim Enhanced Surface Water Treatment Rule Treatment Technique 12 Yes 6
Public Notice Rule Reporting 10 No 2
Long Term 2 Enhanced Surface Water Treatment Rule Treatment Technique 8 No 8

Radon Risk

27 of 27 ZIP records with known zones are in EPA Radon Zone 2.

The EPA recommends testing all homes regardless of radon zone. County radon zones cannot replace an in-home radon test.

Water Facts and Home Safety Score by ZIP Code

ZIP Code City Home Safety Score EPA Violations Health Lead Level Exceeds?
40831 Harlan N/A 32 3 0 mg/L No
40806 Baxter N/A 23 0 0 mg/L No
40823 Cumberland N/A 22 2 0 mg/L No
40855 Lynch N/A 22 2 0.002 mg/L No
40873 Wallins Creek N/A 22 0 0 mg/L No
40828 Evarts N/A 21 2 0 mg/L No
40854 Loyall N/A 17 0 0 mg/L No
40819 Coldiron N/A 10 0 0 mg/L No
40824 Dayhoit N/A 10 0 0 mg/L No
40843 Holmes Mill N/A 10 2 0.002 mg/L No
40927 Closplint N/A 10 2 0.002 mg/L No
40870 Totz N/A 7 0 0 mg/L No
40865 Putney N/A 6 0 0 mg/L No
40810 Bledsoe N/A 4 0 0.004 mg/L No
40815 Cawood N/A 3 1 0 mg/L No
40820 Cranks N/A 3 1 0 mg/L No
40863 Pathfork N/A 3 1 0 mg/L No
40818 Coalgood N/A 2 1 0 mg/L No
40829 Grays Knob N/A 2 1 0 mg/L No
40988 Stoney Fork N/A 1 0 0.005 mg/L No
40808 Big Laurel N/A 0 0 0 mg/L No
40801 Ages Brookside N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A
40807 Benham N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A
40830 Gulston N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A
40847 Kenvir N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A
40849 Lejunior N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A
40964 Mary Alice N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A

What Parents Can Do

  1. Request lead testing at your child's school - The EPA's 3Ts program (Training, Testing, Taking Action) provides guidance for schools. Ask your school board about their water testing schedule.
  2. Review the Consumer Confidence Report (CCR) - Your water utility publishes this annually. It details all detected contaminants.
  3. Test your home's water - Especially if your home has older plumbing (pre-1986) that may contain lead solder or lead pipes.
  4. Pack water from home - If you're concerned about school water quality, send your child with a water bottle filled at home (filtered if possible).
  5. Stay informed - Bookmark this page to check for updates on water quality in your school district.

Need help with school water quality?

Typical cost: Water test: typically $20–$50 (DIY kit) · Professional inspection: $150–$400

Find the Right Water Filter

Free tip: Ask your water utility whether running cold water for 2 minutes is enough to flush your plumbing before drinking.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is the water safe in Harlan County School District schools?

EPA system-level records associated with Harlan County School District show 18 health-based violations across 21 ZIP records with known health counts. These records do not measure individual school taps. Parents should request current building-level testing results from the school district.

Does Harlan County School District test for lead in school water?

Federal law does not require schools to test for lead in drinking water (except in some states with specific mandates). The EPA's voluntary 3Ts program encourages testing. Contact your school district office to ask about their testing schedule and results.

What level of lead is safe for children?

There is no safe level of lead for children, according to the CDC. The EPA action level of 0.015 mg/L (15 ppb) triggers corrective action for water systems, but the American Academy of Pediatrics recommends that school water contain no more than 0.001 mg/L (1 ppb).

Data Sources

Updated daily.

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How to cite this page

APA ZipCheckup. (n.d.). Harlan County School District (KY): 18 Health-Based Violations in Water Systems Mapped to the District Area. https://zipcheckup.com/schools/harlan-county-school-district-ky/
BibTeX 
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  author = {{ZipCheckup}},
  title  = {{Harlan County School District (KY): 18 Health-Based Violations in Water Systems Mapped to the District Area}},
  year   = {n.d.},
  url    = {https://zipcheckup.com/schools/harlan-county-school-district-ky/}
}
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