Water System Report KY

Bowling Green Municipal Utilities

EPA ID: KY1140038 ยท 53,601 people served ยท 3 ZIP codes

ZipCheckup's reading of EPA SDWIS for Bowling Green Municipal Utilities (KY1140038): no EPA violations recorded in the last five years. Throughout five consecutive years of federal water monitoring, Bowling Green Municipal Utilities recorded zero violations - solid performance for a utility serving 53,601 people.

Data: EPA SDWIS

C ยท 57
Avg Safety Score
53,601
People Served
3
ZIP Codes Served
0
Violations (5yr)
Surface Water
Water Source
Zone 1
Radon Risk ยท High
0
Contaminants Flagged
$283K
Median Home Value in Service Area

Service Area Map

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

Service area boundary - Grade C

Service Area Demographics

$73,975
Median Household Income
126,490
Service Area Population
33%
Disadvantaged Population
50th
Poverty Percentile
50th
Energy Burden Percentile
42%
Pre-1986 Housing

The Bowling Green Municipal Utilities serves a community with a median household income of $73,975 and an estimated 126,490 residents across its service area. Approximately 42% of housing stock was built before 1986, which increases the likelihood of lead service lines and older plumbing.

Environmental Justice Note: 33% of the population in this service area is classified as disadvantaged under EPA's EJScreen criteria. Communities with higher disadvantaged populations often face disproportionate environmental and health burdens, including aging water infrastructure and limited resources for remediation.

๐ŸŒŠ Where Does Your Water Come From?

Surface Water

Bowling Green 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
50th
Wastewater Discharge Proximity
30th
Superfund Site Proximity

Infrastructure Risk

35 yr
Avg Pipe Age
Copper
Pipe Material
35 yr
Est. Remaining Life
Moderate Wear
Decay Status
Installed 50% 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. 1 detection 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 โ†’

Comparable Water Systems

Similar-sized systems in Kentucky

Frankfort Plant Board
52,153 people
0 violations
C 0 violations
0 violations
Ashland Water Works
44,402 people
B 0 violations
Mountain Water District
44,057 people
B 10 violations

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 $167
Total Estimated Cost $1,967

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 $1,967 (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

Bowling Green Municipal Utilities (EPA ID: KY1140038) is a community water system in Kentucky that serves approximately 53,601 people from surface water sources.

This system provides water to 3 ZIP codes across 1 community.

ZIP-Area Home Safety Context: C (57/100)

This is the average Home Safety Score for 1 of 3 service-area ZIP codes with all required score domains observed. It is not a grade for the water utility.

Model 4.0.0 uses SDWIS identity plus accepted ECHO SDWA lifecycle-based water compliance, the UCMR 5 PFAS MCL screen, EPA radon zone, and annual EPA AirData AQI across three equally weighted domains. Missing required evidence suppresses the score.

Violation History

No accepted violation records in the 2021-2026 window - The accepted EPA ECHO 2026Q2 snapshot contains zero violation records for this system whose record year falls from 2021 through 2026, inclusive. This is not a tap-water safety guarantee.

Lead & Copper

EPA Lead and Copper Rule evidence attributed directly to this water system:

Lead Level Exceeds Action Level Sample Date
0 mg/L No N/A

No copper action-level exceedance record appears for this PWSID in the accepted LCR snapshot. This does not establish a clean copper measurement.

Radon Risk in Service Area

Dominant radon zone for ZIP codes served by this system: Zone 1 (High Risk)

The EPA recommends testing homes in Zone 1 and Zone 2 areas for radon.

Need help with your water quality?

Typical cost: Water test: typically $20โ€“$50 (DIY kit) ยท Professional inspection: $150โ€“$400

Find the Right Water Filter

Free tip: Let cold water run for 2 minutes before drinking โ€” 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 Bowling Green Municipal Utilities (KY1140038) on EPA.gov.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Bowling Green Municipal Utilities water safe to drink?

The accepted 2026Q2 ECHO snapshot contains zero violation records for Bowling Green Municipal Utilities in the inclusive 2021-2026 record-year window. This is a compliance-record finding, not a guarantee about water at a specific tap.

How many people does Bowling Green Municipal Utilities serve?

Bowling Green Municipal Utilities serves approximately 53,601 people across 3 ZIP codes in Kentucky.

Where does Bowling Green 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) โ€” per-system federal sampling, 2023โ€“2025. EPA UCMR5 monitoring program โ†’

Understand PFAS health context and filtration โ†’

How Water Systems Appear in Rankings

Water systems are evaluated by violation history, contaminant detections, and service population. Larger systems with more service connections appear in more rankings.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is water from Bowling Green Municipal Utilities safe to drink?
Bowling Green Municipal Utilities has a C safety grade based on 0 recorded violations. Some contaminants may exceed EPA limits - independent testing is recommended.
Should I use a water filter?
Bowling Green 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 Bowling Green Municipal Utilities serve?
Bowling Green Municipal Utilities serves approximately 53,601 people with drinking water across 3 ZIP codes.
What is Bowling Green Municipal Utilities's water source?
Bowling Green 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 Bowling Green Municipal Utilities's service area?
The Bowling Green Municipal Utilities service area has a median household income of $73,975. EPA EJScreen data classifies 33% of the population as disadvantaged, which may indicate greater vulnerability to environmental health risks.
Where does Bowling Green Municipal Utilities get its water?
Bowling Green 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.

How to cite this page

APA ZipCheckup. (n.d.). Bowling Green Municipal Utilities, KY: Serves 54K People. https://zipcheckup.com/water-system/ky1140038/
BibTeX
@misc{zipcheckup-water-system-ky1140038,
  author = {{ZipCheckup}},
  title  = {{Bowling Green Municipal Utilities, KY: Serves 54K People}},
  year   = {n.d.},
  url    = {https://zipcheckup.com/water-system/ky1140038/}
}

What You Can Do

1

Test your water

Home test kits can detect lead, bacteria, and other contaminants at your tap. Find the right filter โ†’

2

Check your specific ZIP code

Water quality can vary within a system. View nearest ZIP report โ†’

3

Contact your utility

Bowling Green Municipal Utilities (EPA ID: KY1140038) - request the latest Consumer Confidence Report or ask about specific contaminants.

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