Lexington
Lexington, KY water profile — supply sources, drought status, wastewater reuse, and the key water issues facing the city.
kentucky-american water co
surface water (rivers/reservoirs) · private · PWSID KY0340250
Below EPA's 15 ppb lead action level at last testing.
Source: EPA Safe Drinking Water Information System (SDWIS) · 2026 Q1
Lexington is a mid-sized city and the 5th-largest in Kentucky, home to roughly 225,366 residents. Lexington's drinking water comes largely from the same regional sources that serve Kentucky: Ohio River, Kentucky River, and reservoirs.
As elsewhere in Kentucky, the central challenge is aging infrastructure. Plentiful surface water; the main issue is aging distribution systems and rural access.
Kentucky reuses an estimated 3% of its treated wastewater and maintains minimal reuse programs; Lexington tracks moderate to severe drought conditions on the U.S. Drought Monitor scale.
Explore the Kentucky profile for statewide context, or dig into the water issues shaping Lexington below.
Fayette County water quality
Source: EPA SDWIS · 2026 Q1
At a glance
- Population ~225,366 (5th-largest in Kentucky)
- Primary sources: Ohio River, Kentucky River, and reservoirs
- Drought: moderate to severe conditions
- State reuse rate: ~3% of wastewater
Statewide drought history
% of Kentucky in severe+ drought (Severe (D2) now).
Source: U.S. Drought Monitor
Common questions
Is tap water safe in Lexington?
Lexington's largest water system, KENTUCKY-AMERICAN WATER CO, serves about 669,042 people. EPA records show 0 health-based violation(s) since 2016 and a most-recent 90th-percentile lead level of 0 ppb (EPA action level is 15 ppb). Always check your own provider's annual Consumer Confidence Report.
Where does Lexington get its water?
KENTUCKY-AMERICAN WATER CO draws primarily from surface water (rivers/reservoirs), part of Kentucky's supply from Ohio River, Kentucky River, reservoirs.