Water System Report KY

Berea Municipal Utilities

EPA ID: KY0760030 · 9,972 people served · 3 ZIP codes

Five years of EPA monitoring have produced no violations for Berea Municipal Utilities — the supplier serving 9,972 residents has kept every contaminant level within federal limits, a result that places it among the top-performing utilities for systems with a service population of comparable size.

Data: EPA SDWIS Last verified: 2026-04-02

9,972
People Served
3
ZIP Codes Served
0
Violations (5yr)
Surface Water
Water Source
0
Contaminants Flagged
$186K
Median Home Value in Service Area

Service Area Map

Coverage area for Berea Municipal Utilities Source: EPA SDWIS service area boundaries.

Service area boundary

Service Area Demographics

$65,170
Median Household Income
30,161
Service Area Population
7%
Disadvantaged Population
40th
Poverty Percentile
53th
Energy Burden Percentile
50%
Pre-1986 Housing

The Berea Municipal Utilities serves a community with a median household income of $65,170 and an estimated 30,161 residents across its service area. Approximately 50% of housing stock was built before 1986, which increases the likelihood of lead service lines and older plumbing.

🌊 Where Does Your Water Come From?

Surface Water

Berea Municipal Utilities's water is drawn from rivers, lakes, or reservoirs. Surface water sources are more exposed to agricultural runoff, stormwater, and upstream discharges, but they typically receive more intensive treatment before reaching your tap.

Moderate Risk
Source Contamination Risk
53th
Wastewater Discharge Proximity
30th
Superfund Site Proximity

About 1% of homes in Madison County, Kentucky rely on private wells rather than public water systems. Private well owners are responsible for their own water testing and treatment.

Infrastructure Risk

43 yr
Avg Pipe Age
Copper
Pipe Material
25 yr
Est. Remaining Life
Stable
Decay Status
Installed 63% of expected lifespan used End of life

PFAS Detected in Service Area

PFAS ("forever chemicals") have been detected in water serving this system's area. 2 detections recorded.

State limits: PFOA: 0.004 ppt, PFOS: 0.004 ppt
Health concern: PFAS are linked to cancer, thyroid disease, immune suppression, and developmental effects. They do not break down naturally.
Recommended filter: Reverse osmosis (RO) or activated carbon filters certified for PFAS removal. Find the right filter →

Comparable Water Systems

Similar-sized systems in Kentucky

C 2 violations
C 4 violations
C 0 violations
C 2 violations
C 1 violation

Estimated Remediation Costs

Average estimated costs across ZIP codes served by this system

Flood Insurance Radon Mitigation PFAS Treatment
Flood Insurance $1,400
Radon Mitigation $400
PFAS Treatment $333
Total Estimated Cost $2,133

Based on national averages for common remediation projects. Actual costs vary by property. Only issues flagged by EPA, FEMA, or state data for each ZIP code are included.

Cost of Inaction

If water quality issues in this service area are not addressed, the estimated financial impact per household is:

PFAS Exposure — Lifetime Cost $1,000

Per person (emerging research est.)

Estimated Cumulative Cost Per Household

5 years
$165
10 years
$330
20 years
$660

Compare: Estimated remediation cost is $2,133 (one-time) vs. $330 in estimated inaction costs over 10 years.

Estimates based on published EPA, CDC, and peer-reviewed research. Individual costs vary by household size, property, and health factors. These are conservative lower-bound estimates intended for awareness, not financial advice.

System Overview

Berea Municipal Utilities (EPA ID: KY0760030) is a community water system in Kentucky that serves approximately 9,972 people from surface water sources.

This system provides water to 3 ZIP codes across 2 communities.

Violation History

No violations recorded — This water system has no recorded EPA violations in the past 5 years.

Lead & Copper

No Lead and Copper Rule sampling data available for this water system.

Need help with your water quality?

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

Find the Right Water Filter

Free tip: Let cold water run for 2 minutes before drinking — this helps flush lead from your pipes.

ZIP Codes Served

Coverage: Service area ZIP codes sourced from EPA Community Water System Service Area Boundaries v3 (March 2026 release). These ZIPs reflect the actual deployment footprint recorded by KY or modeled from parcel and building-footprint data.

Data Sources

This report uses public data from the EPA Safe Drinking Water Information System (SDWIS). View the full compliance record for Berea Municipal Utilities (KY0760030) on EPA.gov.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Berea Municipal Utilities water safe to drink?

Based on EPA records, Berea Municipal Utilities has no recorded violations in the past 5 years — a positive indicator of water quality management.

How many people does Berea Municipal Utilities serve?

Berea Municipal Utilities serves approximately 9,972 people across 3 ZIP codes in Kentucky.

Where does Berea Municipal Utilities get its water?

The primary water source is surface water.

Federal UCMR5 PFAS Monitoring: Tested Clean

This water system was tested under the federal EPA Unregulated Contaminant Monitoring Rule (UCMR5). No PFAS compounds were detected.

Samples collected
116

Current MCL reflects the lowest state-enforceable limit (NYS 10 ppt for PFOA/PFOS, effective August 2020). The federal final MCL of 4 ppt for PFOA/PFOS (EPA April 2024 rule) is not enforceable until April 2029. Detections above 4 ppt but below 10 ppt are below current MCL but above the future federal limit.

Source: U.S. EPA UCMR5 (Unregulated Contaminant Monitoring Rule, 5th cycle) — per-system federal sampling, 2023–2025. EPA UCMR5 monitoring program →

Understand PFAS health context and filtration →

Lead Service Line Inventory

Service line breakdown reported under the federal Lead and Copper Rule Improvements (LCRI) inventory requirement:

0
Confirmed Lead
0
Galvanized — Replacement Required
4,230
Unknown Material
180
Confirmed Non-Lead

This system reports zero confirmed lead service lines in its inventory. Unknown-material counts may still warrant verification.

Federal LCRI rule (effective October 2024) requires every public water system to inventory its service lines and complete lead-line replacement within 10 years.

Federal Regulatory Status · 2026Q1
LCRR inventory submission: Reported all required service line types
Latest tap sample on 2022-01-01 did not exceed the federal lead action level.
Population served: 9,972
Reported to Kentucky

Source: EPA SDWIS Federal Service Line Inventory (Phase 2) · Submitted 2026

ZipCheckup is not affiliated with the utility or state agency. Inventory figures render verbatim from the public LCRI submission cited above; ZipCheckup does not perform inspections or replacements.

Learn about lead in drinking water →

Frequently Asked Questions

Should I use a water filter?
Berea Municipal Utilities meets EPA standards, but a water filter can reduce trace contaminants below detectable levels for added peace of mind.
How many people does Berea Municipal Utilities serve?
Berea Municipal Utilities serves approximately 9,972 people with drinking water across 3 ZIP codes.
What is Berea Municipal Utilities's water source?
Berea Municipal Utilities draws water from surface water sources. Source type affects which contaminants are most likely to be present.
What is the demographic profile of Berea Municipal Utilities's service area?
The Berea Municipal Utilities service area has a median household income of $65,170. Demographic data is sourced from the U.S. Census Bureau and EPA EJScreen.
Where does Berea Municipal Utilities get its water?
Berea Municipal Utilities's water is drawn from rivers, lakes, or reservoirs. Surface water sources are more exposed to agricultural runoff, stormwater, and upstream discharges, but they typically receive more intensive treatment before reaching your tap. Based on available data, the source contamination risk is moderate.
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